The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga has once again achieved a 100% submission rate in the monitoring of Social Welfare and Development (SWD) laws for Calendar Year 2024, marking its third consecutive year of full compliance since 2022.

This significant milestone was made possible through the prompt and unwavering compliance of all 78 Local Government Units (LGUs) in the region, from the provincial to the municipal level, through their respective Provincial, City, and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (SWDOs). Their consistent dedication reflects a strong commitment to advancing the social welfare and development agenda across Caraga.

The reports submitted by LGUs cover the implementation of 20 SWD laws across various sectors: Children (4 laws), Youth (2), Senior Citizens (2), Persons with Disabilities (4), Women (3), Family (3), and Cross-Sectoral (2), including the Magna Carta for Public Social Workers and the Mental Health Act.

In line with Executive Order No. 221, series of 2003, the DSWD is tasked to monitor and evaluate policy implementations, plans, and programs related to family welfare, development, and poverty alleviation. The data gathered through this monitoring initiative supports the enhancement of local policy implementation and ensures more effective service delivery.

On behalf of DSWD Field Office Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor A. Dollaga, SWD Laws Monitoring Regional Focal Person Arnel Delgado extended his heartfelt appreciation to all LGUs:

“We would like to extend our gratitude to all LGUs through the Provincial, City, and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices for their commitment and unwavering dedication for another 100% compliance rate on the Social Welfare and Development Report for CY 2024. For three consecutive years, Caraga Region has maintained this huge accomplishment, and we could not have done it without their full support.

We want to assure our local partners that this will not be the end. We will continue to provide appropriate technical assistance based on the results of this monitoring and ensure that all your recommendations will be relayed through our assessment report to our program principals to gain support in improving program implementation across all monitored sectors.”

The continued success of the SWD Laws Monitoring in Caraga also stems from the strong leadership of DSWD Field Office Caraga, under Regional Director Dollaga, the support of Assistant Regional Directors, and the dedicated work of the Technical Advisory Assistance and Other Related Support Services (TAAORSS) through the Regional Technical Assistance Monitoring Team (RTAMT) deployed across the five provinces in the region.