THE PAST TWO DECADES

BY THELMA LEE-MENDOZA
 OnJanuary 24 2017 the Government National
Development conference approved what now (2021) is the
DSWD’s vision and muslim statement”, anchored with
ambisyon natin 2040 which is a long term vision for the
country.

VISION
The Department of social welfare and development envision
all Filipinos free from hunger and poverty, have equal
access to opportunities , enabled by a fair just, and
peaceful society.
Mission

. To lead in the formulation, implementation and coordination of social

welfare and development policies and programs for and with the poor
vulnerable, and disadvantaged.
Poverty
. Is one of the social relatives that social workers have to deal with in the
country, and the government.

. Pantawid pamilyang Pilipino program or 4ps passed into law (RA. No

11310) on April 17 , 2019.

. Pantawid pamilyang Pilipino program.

Is the national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment
that provides grants to extremely poor households for a maximum period
of seven (7) years to improve the health , nutrition , and education of
children ages 0-18.

.
 MAGNA CARTA OF THE POOR
A magna Carta of the poor (R.A. No 1129) was
enacted on April 12, 2019.Under the law,
implementing government agencies and concerned
departments must establish a system to meet the
following right:
1. Adequate food (Department of social welfare and
Development (DSWD) and the Department of
Agriculture.
2. Decent work (Development of Labor and
Employment).
3. Relevant and quality education ( Department of
Education, the Commission on Higher Education
and Technical Education and skills Development
Authority).
 4. Adequate housing ( housing and urban
Development Council)
 5 . Highest attainable standard of health
(Department of Health)

 NEDA- National Economic Development

Authority.
 NAPC- National Anti-Poverty Commission.

HEALTH
One milestone in the area Of health and health
reform in the country is the universal health care
act( R.A. No. 11223) which was signed into law on
February 20, 2019.
 NHIP- National Health Insurance Program

EDUCATION
-Education as a basic human rights was addressed with the passage
of R.A. No. 10931, known as the universal access to Quality Tertiary
Education, On August 3, 2017.

-In the informal and non- formal education sector, the passage of the
Alternative Learning System (ALS) Act on December 23, 2020 ( R.A.
No. 11510) is considered as a major breakthrough as it
institutionalizes the alternative learning system In basic education.
 WOMEN
. The Magna Carta of Women( R.A. No 9710) was enacted on
August 14, 2009 a human rights law that seek to eliminate
discrimination against women by recognizing , protecting,
fulfilling, and promoting the rights of Filipino women.
. The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act known
as the RH Law (R.A No.10354), passed on December 23 2021, is a
national policy that mandates the Philippines government to
comprehensively address the needs of Filipino citizen as regarded
responsible parenthood and reproductive health.
. The Reproductive Health Law Guarantees the Following
1. Access to Services Reproductive Health(RH)
2. Family planning. (FP)
 Expanded Maternity Leave Law (R.A. NO 11210) which was passed on
February 20, 2019 this law increase the maternity leave period to
105 days for female workers with an option to extend for an
additional 30 days without pay and granting and additional 15
days for solo mothers.
CHILDREN
. Prohibition of Child Marriage Law(R.A. No 11596) on December 10,
2021 imposing penalties for facilitation, solemnizing of child marriage
as well as cohabitation of adults with children.
. Domestic Administration Adoption and Child Care Act(R.A. No. 11642)
which was passed on January 6, 2022 provide for simpler and
inexpensive domestic administrative adoption proceedings and shall
streamline services for alternative child care
.Domestic Adoption will be done administratively through the National
Authority for Child Care (NACC) which will be attached to the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD).
 THE ELDERLY
 A. The Anti–Aging Discrimination Act of 2016 (R.A. No. 10911, July
21, 2016) was passed to guarantee equality and prohibit age
discrimination in employment for all older persons
 B . The Centenarian Act of 2016 ( R.A. No. 10868, June 23, 2016)
honors Filipinos who reached 100 years old with a Letter of
Felicitation from the Philippines President and a Centenarian Gift in
in the amount of P100,000.00.
 C. An Act Providing for the Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for all
Senior Citizens (R.A. No.10645) enacted on November 5, 2014,
removed the provision that a senior citizen must be indigent to
quality for coverage.
 D. The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 (R.A. No.9994 February
15, 2010) broadens the coverage of government assistance to senior
citizens in the areas pf employment, education , health ,social
services, access to public transport, and incentives to individual
and non-government organization that own and manage institution
caring for senior citizens.

 SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE PANDEMIC

The Covid-19 pandemic, although primarily a health concern , brought
with it a lot of challenges. It affected practically all aspects of people
lives.
 SOCIAL AMELIORATION PACKAGE(SAP)
The “ Bayanihan to Recover as One Act”(R.A. No. 11494) passed on
September 11, 2020, mandated different government agencies to
implement nationwide amelioration programs to mitigate the impact of
the covid-19 health crisis.
One of these, the Social Amelioration Program(SAP) was planned to
include support to 18 million Filipinos who are the most affected by
covid-19.

UNITED REGISRTERED SOCIAL WORKERS

It initiated a Psycho-Social Support(PSS) services through virtual
platforms, such as Facebook, Viber, and Mobile Phones.
 GOVERNANCE
 The Mandanas Ruling of the Supreme Court in 2018(Confirmed with
finality in 2019) resulted in the expected increase in the local
government’s share in the Internal Revenue Allotment(IRA) from the
national government to at least 60 percent from the current 40
percent.

 MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SOCIAL WORKERS

The passage of the “Act Providing for a Magna Carta for Public Social
Workers(R.A. No 9433) passed on April 11, 2007, declared the following
"The state shall promote and improve the social and economic well-
being of public social workers, their living and working conditions, and
terms of employment.
.The state shall likewise encourage those with proper qualifications
and excellent abilities to apply and remains in social development work
in the government service.
 ASEAN SOCIAL WORK CONSORTIUM
 The ASEAN Social Work Consortium(ASWC) was established in 2010
with approval of its terms of reference during the 6th Senior Official
Meeting of Social welfare and Development (SOMSWD)

 ASCC- ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL COMMUNITY

In 2011, social work practitioner and educators in the country

organized themselves and formed the Philippines Social Work
Consortium (PSWC) or ASWC-Philippines with the following as its
members.

PASWI- PHILIPPINES ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS, INC.

NASWEI-NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION,
INC.
 ALSWDOPI- ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL SOCIAL WELFARE AND
DEVELPOMENT OFFICERS OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.
 PACSWI- PHILIPPINES ASSOCIATION OF COURT SOCIAL WORKERS
INC.
 AMSWPI- ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE
PHILIPPINENES,INC.
 NCSD- NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
 ACCAP- ASSOCIATION OF CHILD CARING AGENCIES OF THE
PHILIPPINES.
 ADSWI- ASSOCIATION OF DSWD SOCIAL WORKERS, INC.

NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS (NGO’s).

 The National Economic and Development Authority. ( NEDA)
. Defines NGO’s as private, non-profit, voluntary organizations
That are committed to the task of socio-economic development and
established primarily for service.
.People Organizations (PO’s) are also called, in other countries
community- based organizations.

In February 1999, the country NGO network launched the Philippines

Council for NGO Certificate (PCNC).
 THE DEVELPOMENT OF THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION IN THE
PHILIPPINES
The Association Charities which was founded in 1917 as a family welfare
agency is generally considered as the “Mother of the Social Work
Profession in the Philippines.

JOSEFA JARA MARTINEZ

-A government pensionada who had obtained a social work diploma from
the New York school of Social Work in 1921.

PIONEER IN SOCIAL WORK THAT HAD THEIR START IN THE ASSCIATED

CHARITIES.
.Virginia Abellera-Pena
.Juana Santos Silverio
.Flora Palomar RUIZ
.Felisa Garina
 . In 1930’s several voluntary organizations such as the catholic
women league and the national federation of women's clubs were
employing trained social workers as executive secretaries the
established of the War Relief Office (WRO) in 1996 to provide relief
and rehabilitation services to war victims resulted in the
employment of more social workers, with full or little college
education.
 In 1948, President Elpidio Quirino established the President Action
Committee on Social Amelioration (PACSA) a community
development agency to help with the problem of social unrest in the
country.
 In June 1950, the Philippines school of Social Work was established,
offering a one-year degree program called Master of Arts in Social
Administration.
 The school’s graduate program was expanded to two years and the
degree changed to Master of Social Work. In 1956 the Civil Service
Commission, responding to the request of the Social Welfare
Administration and the Philippine Association of Social Workers, gave
an examination for Social workers.
 A big boost to the professionalization of social work was the
launching of the UNICEF- Assisted Social Services Project of the
Social Welfare Administration in July, 1961. The aim of the project
was to improve child welfare services by upgrading the competence
of family and child welfare workers.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION INC.

(NASWEI).
 In 1997, the Professional Regulation Commission upon the
endorsement of the Social Work Board, approved the SSWAP
recommendation that the board examination cover the following
areas, with their corresponding weightage Human Behavior and
Social Environment- 20%, Social Welfare Policy and Program- 20%
Social Work Practice/ Methods -20% Field Practice- 40%.
 In December 1990, the SSWAP was registered and incorporated with
the securities and exchange commission, and assumed a new name,
the National Association for Social Work Education (NASWEI).
 Asian Pacific Association for Social Work Education(APASWEI)
Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program
(ETEEAP Or E.O. No. 330).
 The ETEEAP was promulgated on May 10, 1996 by President Fidel
Ramos.
 The resolution, signed by the three PRC Commissioners and the
members of PRC’s Board for Social Workers, took effect after its
Publication in the Republic of the Philippines Official Gazette on
September, 11 2003.

 The NASWEI IN THE TWO DECADES

The NASWEI was engaged in the following activities in the last two
decades.
2000-2010
. NASWEI worked closely with
1.Philippines Regulatory Board for Social Workers (PRB) of the
Philippines Regulatory Commission (PRC)
2. Commission for Higher Education (CHED) Technical Panel for Social
work.
 2010-2020
 CHED’s 2010 “ Policies, Standard and Guidelines” and in another
BSSW curriculum review in 2015 to 2017
 NASWEI maintained its partnership with government and non-
government organization , through its involvement in project of the
following organizations.
 A.UNICEF
 B. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)
 C. United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA )
 E. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
 The NASWEI participated in the June, 19 2019 launching of the “
Philippines Social Work Day”
 June 19 was the date chosen because it is on the same day the
“Social Work Law” R.A No.4373) was passed in 1965.
 2020-2022: The Covid 19 Pandemic and New Normal
.A review and modification of course syllabi had to be done, and “Remote
Field Instruction” guidelines were developed, to adjust to the “New
Normal” in social work education.
The NASWEI with some social work practitioners, organized the “United
Registered Social Worker” (URSW), an association of registered to provide
free online psychological first aid / psychological support services to
support frontline social workers and medical social workers.

The NASWEI consider the following as the current challenges/ problems in

social work education in the country.
1. Lack of qualified faculty to teach the courses in both undergraduate and
graduate programs;
2.Lack of social workers with a master’s degree in social work and five(5)
years administrative experience to head the social work program in
schools.
 3. lack of social work book ( the CHED requires at least five (5)
updated references per subject);
 4. lack of social welfare agencies needed for the placement of
students who have to meet the requirements of field instructions;
 5. some schools of social work have limited support from their school
administration in term of faculty welfare and the hiring of additional
faculty; and
 6. some school have fast faculty turnover because of inadequate
compensation and benefits.

 THE PILIPPINES ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS(PASWI)

 The Philippines Association of Social Workers is the national
organization for professional social workers in the country. Founded
on November ,12 1947, it was incorporated on April 18 1948 and re-
incorporated on April 18, 1948, changing its name to Philippines
Association of Social Workers, Incorporated(PASWI).
 A major breakthrough for the professionalization of social work in the
Philippines was achieved by PASWI through its work for the passage
of R.A No. 4373 on June 19 ,1965. This law marks the recognition of
social work as profession. The PASWI is the Accredited Professional
Organization (APO) recognized by the Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC). The Association’s objectives are the following:
 1.Promote and maintain a professional standard of social work
practice;
 2. Strengthen the competence of members through the provision of
opportunities for their continuing professional growth and
development;
 3. Work for better understanding, acceptance, and recognition of
social work as a profession;
 4. Initiate and work for social legislation in social welfare and
development through effective actions; and
 5.Expand professional activities of the association through the
organization of local chapters and development of linkages with
international organizations devoted to human service.

 The PASWI is a charter member of the Philippines So Social Science

Council (PSSC) and a member of the International Federation of
Social Workers ( IFSW). There are three million professional social
workers in practice globally and 128 professional social work
association of which the IFSW is the biggest. It has 102 chapters all
over the country, with 18,004 members of which 832 are lifetime
members and 17,172 are regular members. As of the August 2021,
the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has a listing of 33,862
registered/ licensed social workers in the country.
 Related to being recognized by the Professional Regulation
Commission as the Accredited Professional Organization (APO) in the
country, the country, the PASWI enjoys the following and privileges:
 1. To represent the profession for which this organization has been
established and accredited;
 2. To submit nominees for vacant positions in the Regulatory Board;
 3. To bid for the yearly award to the outstanding professional
organization;
 4. To nominate for the annual PRC outstanding professional of the
social work profession;
 5. To designate a representative to sit as the 1st member of the
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Council;
 6. To be part of the oath taking ceremony of new professional;
 7. To represent the professional in the Monitoring Committee for the
ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements(MRAs), if applicable; and
 8. To exercise analogous rights and privileges under the law. (Rule
No.5, Reso No. 2019-1089 Revised Rule on Accreditation of APO and
AIPO).

 Among other activities, the PAWI has undertaken and continues to

undertaken the following to achieve its objectives:
 1. Adopted the Philippines Social Work Code of Ethics on November
24, 1964, and revisited it in November 1998 ( this code is currently
being revised;
 2. Nominated to the President members of the Association who
qualify to be member of the Board for Social Workers, the
government’s regulatory board for social work ( since 1965);
 3. Worked for the passage of the Social Welfare Law” R.A. No 4373 in
1965 as well as amendments to this law with the passage of R.A .No
5175 in 1967;
 4. Supported the passage of the Social Welfare Act elevating the
Social Welfare Administration to Department of Social Welfare in
1968;
 5. Served as Core of the Philippines Organizing Committee for the
international social work symposia held in the Philippines in 1970n,
i.e., the Congress of the International Federation of Social Work and
the International Congress of Schools of Social Work ;
 6. Took a stand on social issues like family planning, the integration
of cultural minorities into Philippines society, the release of activist
social workers who were detained for charges of rebellion during the
Martial Law Period;
 7. Submitted proposal to the 1971 Constitutional Convention;
 8. Campaigned for opposition to the government- initiated proposal to
merge the DSWD and the Department of Health in the 1980s;
Work hard in
silence. Let
success make the
noise.