On the Recent Appointment of DSWD Officials

We, the Concerned Registered Social Workers of the Philippines and former DSWD Officials and  Employees, vehemently express our grave concern and utmost dismay, on the appointment of NON-SOCIAL WORKERS in Key Positions in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which require the leadership and technical skills of a full-fledged Social Worker. 

These Key Positions are the following:

• The Head of the Program Management Bureau who provides guidance on the administration and provision of technical assistance on the implementation of social welfare and development programs;
• The Head of the Standards Bureau who provides guidance on its role to set standards and policies and the performance of regulatory functions through registration, licensing, and accreditation of public and private social welfare programs;
• The Head of the Social Technology Bureau who provides guidance on its role to undertake social work-oriented research programs and studies on matters pertaining to family life, the welfare needs of children and youth, the aged, the disabled and other individuals, or groups with special needs as well as to initiate and administer pilot social welfare and development projects designed to suit local settings, problems and situations for possible implementation on a nation-wide basis through the use of the Social Work Research;
• The Head of the Social Welfare Institutional Development Bureau who provides guidance over education and capacity-building for public and private social welfare and development agencies and on the development and enrichment of a body of knowledge on social welfare and development which includes the development of an evidence-based indigenous knowledge of Social Work in the Philippines towards contributing in the professional qualification framework of Social Work;
• The Head of the Crisis Intervention Division of the Program Management Bureau who provides guidance, direct supervision, and management in the implementation of direct and emergency services which deal directly with DSWD clients and beneficiaries in crisis situation; and
• The Head of the International Social Services Office who provides guidance on the social case management of distressed overseas workers and their families.

By virtue of Republic Act 4373 or the Social Work Law as amended by Republic Act 10847, the professional authority of Registered Social Workers over the purview of social welfare and development has been established. Such professional authority includes the exclusive development and utilization of Social Work competencies, nomenclature, practice standards, social technology, methods, tools, approaches, and interventions in the realization of social welfare and development mandates, programs, and services. 

Also, Republic Act 5416 or the Social Welfare Act has further institutionalized and strengthened Social Work as the Lead Helping Profession in the field of social welfare and development.

By these premises, in the spirit of public interest and good governance, we firmly believe, based on our utmost principles and values, that the realization of the mandate of DSWD has the practice of the Social Work Profession at its core, thus, without the leadership lens and technical supervision of Professional Social Workers, DSWD as the primary national government agency for social welfare and development is being led into an oblivion as it would fail to fully perform its mandate and functions.

How can a Non-Social Worker be capable of providing direct guidance over sectoral programs? 

How can they provide adequate leadership in setting and regulating standards on social welfare and development programs and services centered in Social Case Management that only a Social Worker can understand? 

How can they manage DSWD initiated social work research activities and develop/ design social welfare and development programs without the professional lens of a Social Worker? 

Only a Social Worker can conduct activities such as social preparation, social investigation, social research, program design, and evaluation with in-depth understanding and utilization of the bio-psycho-social model and person-in-environment theory as integral parts of the Social Work Perspective!! 

How can they provide expert-level supervision over institutional development of social welfare in the Philippines without the specialized competencies of a Social Worker? 

How can one directly oversee the operationalization of crisis intervention as a practice in Social Work if one does not have the academic and professional background necessary to be adept with it?

Isn’t it common sense that a Non-Social Worker is not fit and capable to be appointed in these positions? 

Isn’t it obvious that the intended beneficiaries of social welfare and development programs and services would suffer the consequences of the misalignments made through these wrongful appointments?

Concretely, there are national agencies that maintain and respect the professional lens (leadership and technical) necessary in the performance of key positions based on trust, confidence, and competence. Hence, it is just, it is right, and it is fair that the same shall be accorded to DSWD that key positions should be performed by Professional Social Workers who solely can provide proper guidance on mandates, programs, services, and processes that are integral to the practice of Social Work.

It is high time to take the cudgel and advance the profession within the realm of government service. The government should heed the call to respect and promote the Social Work Profession and the mandate of DSWD, by designating competent and dedicated Social Workers and appointing them as officials who are professionally committed in serving the public and on leading the organization as Secretary, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Bureau Directors, Regional Directors, and Division Chiefs.

Further, we strongly believe that part of the exercise of meritocracy is to consider the vast experience of those who rose from the ranks and are still serving in the Department for many years with competence, honesty, and dedication. This will help us avoid the destructive path of patronage politics that allows appointment by basis of mere connections without considering its dreadful consequences to the people we intend to serve.

We call upon the duly constituted authority to recognize, promote and advance the social work profession and its significant role in social welfare and social protection- from policy development to program design and implementation including monitoring and evaluation. Social Work, as a practice-based profession and academic discipline should be fully appreciated in DSWD, for a truly responsive social welfare and development arm of the State.  

As we enjoin all Social Workers, globally, in this year’s World Social Work Day theme: “Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind”, TOGETHER, UNITED WE STAND!

RESPECT AND UPHOLD THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION!