The Pasig City government has approved a new ordinance that intends to rearrange the internal organizational structure and staffing pattern of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
Ordinance No. 74-2023, authored by Councilors Angelu de Leon and Maro Martires, aims to make the CSWDO become more “participatory, inclusive, environment-friendly and adaptive” in delivering transparent services, with personnel that are responsive and accountable.
Under the ordinance, the CSWDO will be segmented into four divisions — the Kanlungan sa Pasig Center; Children and Youth Division; Women, Family, and Community Division; and the Administration Division.
These priority areas will enable social welfare programs to be more focused, and will facilitate a more streamlined delivery of basic social services to the public.
Moreover, 22 new plantilla positions will also be made to increase manpower and human resources and adequately support the CSWDO’s daily operations.
Current CSWDO social workers may also have the opportunity to be promoted or receive equitable pay according to the demands of their work.
In a post on social media, the Office of Councilor De Leon said the CSWDO is the “heart of the local government” since its primary objective is to cater to the wellbeing of Pasigueños through the provision of social services.
The CSWDO is the office responsible for ensuring citizens’ protection, aid, and support in relation to various social issues.
These duties include creating case study reports of beneficiaries to avail of welfare services; providing counseling services: facilitating the livelihood assistance and social amelioration programs; leading intervention programs for people in need of special protection, abuse and trafficking victims, and out-of-school youth among others; processing adoption papers; and making projects aimed at women and solo parents.
“Nararapat lamang na ating pangalagaan ang mga taong bumubuo nito sa mga paraang nakakaya ng ating gobyerno (It is only right that we take care of the people in our social welfare department through any means that the government is capable of),” said the councilor.
De Leon said she and Councilor Martires urged their City Council members to approve the ordinance as a way to express the council’s support and gratitude towards the city’s social workers.
“Who takes care of our caretakers?” was a question posed by the councilor, to which she replied, “we take care of our own.”