The Philippines, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), attended the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD) on December 5 and 6 via Zoom Video Conferencing.

With the theme, “Strengthening Partnerships for Advancing the Rights and Welfare of Persons with Disabilities,” the meeting focused on areas for regional collaboration to protect vulnerable sectors, including the mainstreaming of the rights of persons with disabilities.

During the meeting, DSWD Asst. Secretary for International Affairs, Attached and Supervised Agencies (IAASA) Elaine Fallarcuna, who is also the SOMSWD Philippines Alternate Focal Point, presented the updates regarding the ASEAN Social Work Consortium Work Plan 2021 – 2025.

Asst. Secretary Fallarcuna also shared the draft updated Terms of Reference of the ASEAN Children’s Forum.

The annual meeting of the SOMSWD provides a venue for focused discussions on matters under the purview of social welfare and development, including the status of implementation of the SOMSWD Work Plan 2021-2025. # (AKDL)