BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) celebrates its 60th Founding Anniversary this year with the theme “The DSWD@60: Committed Social Service with Integrity.”

For its diamond jubilee, the department is putting emphasis on committed social service with integrity in concurrence to the speech made by Assistant Secretary Camilo G. Gudmalin during the DSWD Caraga celebration last month, claiming that DSWD has been, is and will be consistently serving the people with care and with heart especially to clients who are voiceless, helpless and vulnerable.

Gudmalin  explained that “DSWD continue to face the herculean tasks of not only socially protecting the disadvantaged and vulnerable but also transforming and empowering individuals, families and communities for an improved quality of life.”

Moreover, it was also learned that the department is highlighting its convergence strategy this year to be more efficient in the delivery of social services and maximize results. The department hopes to move out 3.9 million poor families out of poverty and be a leader in social protection through its core poverty reduction programs namely, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), and Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran (SEA-K).

The department is also envisioning a strong partnership with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) this year to fully carry out its aim to engage these organizations as “gabay, kaagapay, tulay and bantay” of its services.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman conveyed her anniversary message for all field office staff through Gudmalin that they should put into practice the “matapat, magiliw at matuwid na paglilingkod.”

These new developments pose a challenge not just to DSWD Caraga workers but to the whole workforce of the Department.

“Integrity is important for in this value lies the trust of our clients, this is what holds the very foundation of every organization,” Ramil M. Taculod, Management Audit Analyst and an awardee of the department told his fellow government workers. ### (Social Marketing Unit)