The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will hold a virtual conference on Saturday, June 19, to gather country’s social work practitioners to strengthen solidarity and inter-connectedness among them.
The DSWD announced on Wednesday, June 16, that it will lead the celebration of the second Philippine Social Workers’ Day with a virtual conference on June 19, which is expected to be participated in by 500 social workers. The event is organized in partnership with ASEAN Social Work Consortium-Philippines.
“As the lead agency that provides social protection services, the DSWD believes that social workers play a vital role in responding to the needs of Filipinos during crisis and in ensuring to remain one in their mission to uplift the human well-being of the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged individuals and families, most especially during this pandemic,” it said in a statement.
The conference marks the nation’s commemoration of the enactment of Republic Act No. 4373 or An Act to Regulate the Practice of Social Work and the Operation of Social Work Agencies in the Philippines and for Other Purposes on June 19, 1965.
The DSWD said this year’s theme is “Strengthening Solidarity and Inter-connectedness among Filipino Social Workers” to “highlight the contributions of our social workers to social development and people empowerment.”
The conference aims to recognize social workers’ accomplishments as different social work association will have to endorse three awardees to be recognized for this year’s ‘Gawad Parangal Sa Natatanging Kontribusyon Ng Manggagawang Panlipunan.’
The social welfare department noted that there are a total of 500 social work practitioners from different social work associations.
These include Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc.; National Association of Social Work Educations, Inc.; Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc.; Philippine Association of Court Social Workers, Inc.; Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines, Inc.; DOH League of Medical Social Workers, Association of Medical Social Workers of the Philippines; Association of DSWD Social Workers, Inc.; National Council of Social Development; and the Area Based Standards Network.
The DSWD said a lecture on the enhanced version of the Philippine Social Work Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards will be conducted as part of the Social Workers’ Day celebration.
This aims “to strengthen solidarity and for the improvement of practice of social workers,” it said. The lecture will be conducted by Lorna C. Gabad, chairperson of the Professional Regulatory Board for Social Work.
“The DSWD extends, in advance, its gratitude to all Filipino social workers for their commitment to the country’s sustainable development.”