The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is celebrating its 66th year anniversary this January.

The beginning of a new year brings in a replenished driving-force for the entire department and its workforce to work harder, reach farther and continue upholding its legacy that started sixty six years back.

Founded on 1951, the commemoration aims to celebrate the genuine service of the department to its clientele in over six decades. The department, being the lead agency in promoting and protecting the rights and welfare of the poor, marginalized and the disadvantaged individuals have been in the forefront in bringing positive changes and progress in the lives of its beneficiaries.

This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme, “Sama-samang Paglilingkod Na May Malasakit”.

“DSWD is not just an agency. It is an entity that resembles your loved ones. It cares for you, it protects you, it gives you the priority that you deserve. Sabi nga sa ating slogan, ‘Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo.” That kind of public service is imbued in the core of our call as social workers,” said Atty. Araceli F. Sollamillo, DSWD Regional Director.

The department also wishes to honor its workforce for its contribution in the delivery of service and implementation of its mandate.

In line with the celebration of its anniversary, the department has prepared several activities to create an avenue for its employees to build and strengthen camaraderie, solidarity and promote sportsmanship through the annual sports fest.

“This has been the tradition of the department. We organize sports events, games, to give our employees the opportunity to have fun amidst the deliverables.” Assistant Regional Director Riduan P. Hadjimuddin said.

From January 9-13, the department has prepared wellness-promotion activities for its employees such as blood–letting, dental check-up, blood sugar testing, dietary counseling, massage and reflexology services

This will be followed by the Open-Tiangge week which will showcase various products of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) participants and Sheltered workshop of Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC).

The product display hopes to promote home/handmade products of its own clients and beneficiaries which forms part of the agency’s mission to help these people improve their social condition through entrepreneurship.

A garage sale will also be organized by the department from which a part of the profit will be used for a special cause.###

DSWD cares for its clientele as well as its internal workforce hence a week-long wellness-promotion activity is being conducted in the regional office from January 10-13 as part of its 66th anniversary celebration.
In this photo: DSWD Resident Doctor, Dr. Gracia Gacrama checks total body fat or the Body Mass Index (BMI) of DSWD staff. A high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness. BMI can be used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems but it is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of an individual.