As the lead agency in social welfare and development, the Department exercises the following functions

• Formulates policies and plans which provide direction to intermediaries and other implementers in the development and delivery of social welfare and development services.
• Develops and enriches existing programs and services for specific groups, such as children and youth, women, family and communities, solo parents, older persons and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs);
• Registers, licenses and accredits individuals, agencies and organizations engaged in social welfare and development services, sets standards and monitors the empowerment and compliance to these standards.
• Provides technical assistance and capability building to intermediaries; and
• Provides social protection of the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged sector, DSWD also gives augmentation funds to local government units so these could deliver SWD services to depressed municipalities and barangays and provide protective services to individuals, families and communities in crisis situation.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Provides overall policy direction and technical and administrative supervision to the Department in the pursuit and implementation of its mandate.

You may reach the Office of the Secretary through:

Corazon "Dinky" Juliano-Soliman
Secretary
Trunk Line: 931-81-01 loc. 301, 300, 302, 303
Tel/Fax: 931-81-91
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Javier R. Jimenez
Head Executive Assistant
Office of the Secretary
Trunk Line: 931-81-01 loc. 300
Tel/Fax: 931-81-91
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Internal Audit Service

Examines and evaluates the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control within the agency.

You may reach the Internal Audit Service through:

Guillerma E. Flores
Director IV, Internal Audit Service
Trunk Line: 931-81-01 loc. 406
Tel/Fax: 952-97-73
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Social Marketing Service (SMS)

Undertakes advocacy and marketing of the agency’s programs, projects, services and activities to promote social change and nurture its relationship with different publics. These include vulnerable sectors, government agency partners, non-traditional partners, mass media, colleagues within the agency, non-government organizations and foreign and multilateral agencies.

You may reach the Social Marketing Service through:

Prescila R. Villa
Director III, Social Marketing Service
Trunk Lines: 931-81-01 loc. 206, 209, 207/208
Tel/Fax: 951-74-40
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Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS)
Camilo G. Gudmalin
Director IV
National Project Manager, KALAHI-CIDSS
Local : 411, 412
Tel/Fax: 931-6114
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Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
Margarita V. Sampang
Director IV
Program Manager, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
Local : 423, 421
Tel/Fax: 951-68-27
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National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR)
Vincent Andrew T. Leyson
Director III
National Project Manager, NHTS-PR
Local : 324, 325
Tel/Fax: 931-8144, 951-7124
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POLICY AND PROGRAMS GROUP (PPG)

The PPG is composed of the Social Technology Bureau, Policy Development and Planning Bureau, Standards Bureau and the Management Information Systems Service. Under the supervision of the Secretary and the Undersecretary for Policy, Plans and Programs, this Group undertakes the following functions:

• Leads in the formulation and development of policies, plans, programs and projects in the field of social welfare and development (SWD);
• Conducts and facilitates SWD researches, studies and special projects;
• Assesses, generates, processes, packages and disseminates data and reports;
• Develops and maintains standards and procedures on information technology;
• Sets standards, rules and regulations on the establishment, licensing and accreditation of individuals, public and private agencies or organizations engaged in social welfare and development activities, fund drives and other forms of solicitations;
• Develops and implements training criteria, standards and capability building programs for organizations and personnel engaged in SWD activities;
• Promotes and maintains linkages with bilateral, multilateral and other international bodies for technical cooperation in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, NEDA and other related departments;
• Deputizes law enforcement agencies in the implementation of laws, rules and regulation for the protection of the rights of the exploited, abuse and disadvantaged; and
• Provides technical assistance and monitors the operations of attached agencies.

You may reach the Office of the Undersecretary for Policy and Programs Group through:

Alicia R. Bala
Undersecretary, Policy and Programs Group
Local: 309, 310, 311
Tel/Fax: 931-91-31
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Management Information Systems Service (MISS)

Ensures the appropriate, timely and cost-effective utilization and application of information technology to support the attainment of the DSWD vision, mission and goals.

You may reach the Management Information Systems Service through:

Wayne C. Belizar
Director IV, Management Information Systems Service
Trunk Lines: 931-81-01 loc. 321
Tel/Fax: 931-80-85
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OPERATIONS AND CAPACITY BUILDING GROUP (OCBG)

Under the supervision of the Secretary and the Undersecretary for Operations and Capacity Building, this group undertakes the following functions:

• Supervises, monitors and provides technical to field offices along field operations;
• Coordinates field operations and other activities requiring the mobilization of field offices and ensures an effective central-field office support mechanism;
• Institutionalizes a standard performance evaluation system for field offices in coordination with other units in the Central Office;
• Determines augmentation assistance to LGUs and other intermediaries thru FOs in cases of disasters and other situations;
• Liaises with national agencies for concerns of the field offices;
• Accesses individuals, groups and entities needing assistance to intermediaries and/or government agencies.

You may reach the Office of the Undersecretary for Operations and Capacity Building Group through:

Celia Capadocia-Yangco
Undersecretary, Operations and Capacity Building Group
Trunk Line: 931-81-01 loc. 304, 305
Tel/Fax: 931-81-72
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GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES GROUP (GASSG)

Under the supervision of the Secretary and the Undersecretary for General Administrative Support Services, this group will undertake the following functions:

• Manages the internal financial and administrative affairs of the Department;
• Coordinates and manages disposition of all forms of financial assistance to the Department, whether in cash or in kind;
• Performs public affairs and legislative liaison services;
• Provides legal services, including representation of the Department in all legal cases involving the performance of its powers and functions; and
• Manages and mobilizes externally-generated resources.

You may reach the Office of the Undersecretary for General Administration and Support Services Group through:

Mateo G. Montaño
Assistant Secretary, GASSG and DLLO
Local : 312, 313
Tel/Fax: 931-91-35
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Administrative Service (AS)

Manages the procurement of goods and services for the Department; property, supply, asset and record management; property and facility maintenance and the supervision of the operation of transportation, communication, utility, janitorial and security services.

You may reach the Administrative Service through:

Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo
Director IV, Administrative Service
Trunk Lines: 931-81-01 loc. 211, 212
Tel/Fax: 931-81-16
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Financial Management Service (FMS)

Prepares and implements an effective financial plan to support the Department’s programs/activities/projects and ensures the efficient and economical management of financial resources of the Department. It also provides management with relevant information and advice on fiscal decisions and the evaluation and analysis of the operating performance of various responsibility centers of the Department.

You may reach the Financial Management Service through:

Deseree D. Fajardo
Director IV, Financial Management Service
Trunk Lines: 931-81-01 loc. 218
Tel/Fax: 931-81-27
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Legal Service (LS)

Provides the management with legal opinions and advice in handling criminal and personnel discipline related matters.

You may reach the Legal Service through:

Atty. Sally D. Escutin
Director IV, Legal Service
Trunk Lines: 931-81-01 loc. 417, 418
Tel/Fax: 951-22-38
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Human Resource Management and Development Service (HRMDS)

Manages the Department’s human resource management and development such as personnel transactions, employees’ welfare and career planning and development.

You may reach the Human Resource Management and Development Service through:

Marie Angela S. Gopalan
Director IV, Human Resource Management and Development Service
Trunk Lines: 931-81-01 loc. 100, 101, 102
Tel/Fax: 951-28-07
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Department Legislative Liaison Office (DLLO)

Ensures active agency involvement in the legislative process and forging of strategic alliances with policy makers in advocating needed policy and legislative reforms.

You may reach the Department Legislative Liaison Office through:

Mateo G. Montaño
Assistant Secretary for Administration and Department Legislative Liaison Officer
Trunk Lines: 931-81-01 loc. 312, 313
Tel/Fax: 931-91-35
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FIELD OFFICES

• Manages and implements DSWD functions at the regional level;
• Facilitates direction-setting and provides resource and technical assistance to SWD intermediaries within a collaborative environment;
• Promotes and ensures the implementation and enforcement of laws, policies and rules and regulations pertaining to social welfare and development within its geographical, spatial and cultural jurisdiction.

Social welfare as a basic function of the state was a concept that materialized only after the Second World War, although different groups were undertaking pockets of social work in the first decade of the American occupation in the country. After the war, the Philippine government gradually assumed the major responsibility for social welfare.

1915 - The Public Welfare Board (PWB) was created. Its functions were to study, coordinate and regulate all government and private entities engaged in social services.

1921 - The PWB was abolished and replaced by the Bureau of Public Welfare under the Department of Public Instruction.

1939 - Commonwealth Act No. 439 created the Department of Health and Public Welfare

1941- The Bureau of Public Welfare officially became a part of the Department of Health and Public Welfare. In addition to coordinating services of all public and private social welfare institutions, the Bureau also managed all public child-caring institutions and the provision of child welfare services.

1947 - President Manuel A. Roxas abolished the Bureau of Public Welfare and in its place created the Social Welfare Commission (SWC) under the Office of the President.

1948 - President Elpidio Quirino created the President’s Action Committee on Social Amelioration (PACSA) to effect socio-economic reforms in the countryside to counteract social unrest.

1951 - The SWC and PACSA were merged into the Social Welfare Administration (SWA) which marked the beginning of an integrated public welfare program.

1968 - Republic Act 5416 known as the Social Welfare Act of 1968 elevated the SWA into a Department, placing it under the executive branch of government in equal status with other social agencies like health and education.

1976 - The Department of Social Welfare was renamed Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) with the signing of Presidential Decree No. 994 by President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It gave the Department a more accurate institutional identity, in keeping with its productivity and developmental thrusts.

1978 - The DSSD was renamed Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) in line with the change in the form of government, from presidential to parliamentary.

1987 - The MSSD was reorganized and renamed Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under Executive Order 123 signed by President Corazon C. Aquino. Executive Order No. 292, also known as the Revised Administration Code of 1987, established the name, organizational structure and functional areas of responsibility of DSWD and further defined its statutory authority.

1991 - The passage of Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 effected the devolution of DSWD basic services to local government units.

1998 - President Joseph Ejercito Estrada issued Executive Order No. 15 “Redirecting the Functions and Operations of the Department of Social Welfare and Development” to strengthen the DSWD’s repositioning efforts that began soon after the implementation of the Local Government Code of 1991.

2003 - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 221 amending Executive Order No. 15 which defined the mandate, roles, powers and functions of the DSWD.

2005 - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the DSWD’s Rationalization and Streamlining Plan (RSP) on January 28, 2005 for implementation over the next five years. The RSP emphasizes the Department’s shift in policy, functions and programs in line with its steering role.