HISTORY

DSWD has undergone a series of transformations since its inception. It

has evolved from a small entity within the government structure to
an independent department responsible for the social welfare of the
nation. Here is a timeline of the department’s history:

• 1915: The birth of the Public Welfare Board (PWB) ushered

in an era of regulation and coordination of all social
service entities.
• 1921: The PWB was dissolved and replaced by the Bureau
of Public Welfare, functioning under the Department of
Public Instruction.
• 1939: The Department of Health and Public Welfare came
into existence through Commonwealth Act No. 439.
• 1941: The Bureau of Public Welfare joined the Department
of Health and Public Welfare, assuming control of all
public child-caring institutions and child welfare services.
• 1947: The Bureau of Public Welfare was abolished by
President Manuel A. Roxas, leading to the creation of the
Social Welfare Commission (SWC) under the Office of the
President.
• 1948: President Elpidio Quirino birthed the President’s
Action Committee on Social Amelioration (PACSA) to
drive socio-economic reforms in rural areas.
• 1951: The merging of the SWC and PACSA resulted in the
formation of the Social Welfare Administration (SWA),
marking the start of an integrated public welfare
program.
• 1968: Republic Act 5416 or the Social Welfare Act of 1968
elevated the SWA to the Department status, aligning it
with other social agencies such as health and education.
• 1976: The Department of Social Welfare was rebranded as
the Department of Social Services and Development
(DSSD) by Presidential Decree No. 994, signed by President
Ferdinand E. Marcos.
• 1978: The change in the form of government led to the
renaming of the DSSD to the Ministry of Social Services
and Development (MSSD).
• 1987: The MSSD was restructured and renamed
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
under President Corazon C. Aquino’s Executive Order 123.
Executive Order No. 292, the Revised Administration Code
of 1987, further defined DSWD’s statutory authority.
• 1991: The Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act
7160) resulted in the devolution of DSWD basic services to
local government units.
• 1998: President Joseph Ejercito Estrada’s Executive Order
No. 15 aimed at strengthening the repositioning efforts of
the DSWD following the implementation of the Local
Government Code of 1991.
• 2003: Executive Order No. 221 was issued by President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo amending Executive Order No.
15, redefining the mandate, roles, powers, and functions
of the DSWD.

Over time, DSWD has adopted and shed various names, roles, and
responsibilities in response to the changing social and political
climate. The historical account laid out in this document traces the
development of the agency , offering insights into its journey and the
factors that have shaped its current state.
Primary Role and Objectives

DSWD serves various major social welfare and development

functions. Its key goals are as follows:

1. Poverty Alleviation

The DSWD is critical to implementing programs and initiatives that

aim to reduce poverty and improve the socioeconomic conditions
of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. This includes empowering
individuals and communities through financial assistance, livelihood
support, and skill training.

2. Social Assistance Programs

The department oversees several social assistance programs that

help individuals and families in need. Conditional cash transfer
programs, food assistance, and other forms of aid to ease
immediate challenges and enhance overall well-being may be
included. These programs aim to provide a safety net for those who
are struggling and help them become self-sufficient in the long term.

3. Child and Youth Welfare

The DSWD is also actively involved in the protection and promotion

of children’s and youth’s rights. Efforts to prevent and respond to
child abuse, exploitation, and neglect are included. The department
also aims to provide educational assistance and create a safe
environment for young people.

4. Disaster Response and Management

During natural or man-made disasters, the DSWD is vital in delivering

emergency relief and rehabilitation aid. This includes distributing
relief products, providing financial assistance, and coordinating
efforts to meet the immediate needs of affected people.
5. Protection of Vulnerable Sectors

The DSWD prioritizes the rights and well-being of vulnerable groups

such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and indigenous
communities. This includes the deployment of initiatives that meet
these sectors’ distinct needs and concerns.

6. Community Empowerment

The department seeks to help communities become self-sufficient

and resilient. Some examples include community organizing, skill
development, and other programs that empower individuals and
communities to actively participate in their development.

7. Policy Development and Advocacy

The DSWD is also active in policy development for social welfare and
development. It also participates in advocacy initiatives to improve
social awareness and build a more inclusive and equitable society.

Socio-economic Programs and Welfare Services

Following these key objectives, the Department of Social Welfare

and Development (DSWD) implements various programs and
services aimed at addressing the social welfare and development
needs of the population. Some of the key programs and initiatives
include the following:

1. Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)

A flagship poverty-reduction initiative that distributes cash rewards to

extremely poor households in exchange for meeting specific health
and education requirements. The program aims to break the poverty
cycle by investing in children’s health and education.
2. Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan—Comprehensive and Integrated
Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS)

This community-driven development program encourages

communities to establish their own needs and goals. It entails
collaborative planning, decision-making, and project
implementation to address local challenges such as infrastructure,
health, and education.

3. Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP)

The SLP aims to reduce poverty by promoting sustainable livelihood

options. The program offers skill training, capital assistance, and
market connections to assist individuals and families in earning a
living and improving their economic well-being.

4. Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens

This program provides cash support to disadvantaged senior citizens

to supplement their daily subsistence and medical requirements. It
strives to enhance the living conditions of the elderly, who are
especially vulnerable to poverty and neglect.

5. Listahanan

This program, formerly known as the National Household Targeting

System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), is a database of poor
households in the Philippines. It is used to identify beneficiaries of
various social welfare programs to ensure that help reaches those
who require it the most.

6. Disaster Response and Management

The DSWD is actively involved in disaster response and management,

providing relief and rehabilitation aid to disaster-affected
populations both during and after disasters. This includes relief-goods
delivery, cash-for-work programs, and psychosocial assistance.
7. Adoption Program

The DSWD also facilitates legal child adoption, ensuring that children
are placed in loving and secure households. The initiative strives to
give orphaned, abandoned, or neglected children a brighter future.

8. Protective Services Program

This program is dedicated to the protection of individuals and groups

in difficult situations, such as victims of abuse, exploitation, and
violence. Counseling, legal support, and temporary shelter are
among the services provided.

9. Juvenile Justice and Welfare Program

The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Program is intended to protect the

rights of children who have run afoul of the law. It advocates for a
restorative and rehabilitative approach that allows young offenders
to reintegrate into society.

10. Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons

(RRPTP)

This program focuses on the recovery and reintegration of human

trafficking victims. It offers survivors resources such as refuge,
counseling, legal assistance, and skill training to assist them in
rebuilding their lives.

11. PAMANA Program

The Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) initiative seeks

to improve access to essential social services for impoverished
communities while also promoting responsive governance. Through
this program, the government aims to address the root causes of
insurgency and conflict by providing sustainable livelihood
opportunities and infrastructure development in these marginalized
areas.
12. International Social Welfare Services for Filipino Nationals
program (ISWSFN)

This initiative supports Filipinos abroad, including migrant workers and

overseas Filipino nationals, during crises by urging them to seek aid
from Philippine embassies in their respective host nations. Whether
facing issues like labor exploitation, human trafficking, or various
forms of abuse, the program actively advocates for the utilization of
Philippine embassies. This ensures that Filipinos have a dependable
and easily accessible resource to turn to for assistance, promoting
their safety and well-being while living abroad.

13. Center & Residential Care Facilities

These establishments deliver around-the-clock assistance, presenting

alternative family care options for economically disadvantaged and
vulnerable individuals or families navigating a crisis. They commonly
furnish a secure and nurturing setting for those who might be without
a home, at risk of homelessness, or confronting various difficulties.

These centers deliver diverse services, encompassing emergency

shelter, meals, counseling, and aid in obtaining permanent housing
or employment. Their objective is to offer temporary support,
enabling individuals and families to restore stability and achieve self-
sufficiency.

14. Gender and Development (GAD)

This program recognizes the importance of integrating gender

considerations into every facet of development, impacting
government planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and
evaluation of policies, programs, and projects.

15. Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB)

The Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) Process seeks to guarantee the

execution of priority projects to alleviate poverty.
16. Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS)

The AICS Program provides financial assistance for supplementary

support services or specific needs that individuals or families may
have, including medical aid, burial
expenses, transportation, education, food, and other essentials. The
program’s objective is to aid underprivileged citizens in fulfilling their
basic requirements.

The department’s efforts are diversified, to address numerous

aspects of social welfare and development to create a more
inclusive and compassionate society. Through its initiatives, the
DSWD aims to empower individuals and communities, enabling them
to improve their quality of life and become active participants in
nation-building.

DSWD Centers and Institutions

1. Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC)

This is a 24-hour residential facility that offers social work interventions

for children aged 0–6. Children who have been abused, neglected,
abandoned, or exploited, as well as those with particular
requirements, such as children at risk or those in need of alternative
family care, can get protection and rehabilitation assistance through
temporary residential care.

It also offers appropriate and responsive social work interventions

and services to address the growth and development, as well as the
safety and security, needs of very young children who have been
abused.

2. The Regional Haven

The Regional Haven for Women and Girls offers an alternative form
of family care through 24-hour group living temporarily to
disadvantaged and abused women and girl victim-survivors and
their qualified dependents whose needs cannot be adequately met
by their own families and relatives over time.

3. Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY)

The RRCY is a residential facility meant to provide rigorous therapy

for the rehabilitation of CICL whose sentences have been
suspended. It provides a caring, out-of-home environment for
youngsters who require rehabilitation.

Partner Agencies

To achieve its objectives and carry out its programs effectively, the
DSWD collaborates with various government agencies, private
organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and
international partners. Some of these include:

• Department of Health (DOH)

• Department of Education (DepEd)
• Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
• Philippine National Police (PNP)
• National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
• Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Philippine Red Cross
• Save the Children Philippines
• Plan International Philippines
The above are just some of the organizations that the DSWD
collaborates with to ensure the successful implementation of its
programs and services. Through these partnerships, the department
can reach a wider audience and provide more comprehensive
support to those in need.

Aside from collaborating with partner agencies, the DSWD also works
closely with local government units (LGUs) and community-based
organizations to address specific social welfare and development
issues that are unique to each locality. This approach allows for a
more targeted and tailored approach to addressing the needs of
different communities.