From Left to Right: Ms. Michelle Guerrero and Ms. Cristina Cheng of Behavioral Dynamics Inc. (BDI) joined several DSWD middle managers composed of Mr. John Patrick La-anan, Atty. Maria Cassandra Urbiztondo, Ms. Mary Antonette Duero, Ms. Oliva Arcaina, Mr. Felix Armeña, Ms. Joselita Enciso, Mr. Cesar Aquino, Ms. Matilde Myla Monsod, Ms. Ana Marie Daep, Ms. Emylou Miravalles and Mr. Elmer Tolentino for a photo opportunity after one of their competency assessment session.

In line with the priority of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of services and programs to the poor and marginalized sector, the Department held an assessment of the current competencies of 82 DSWD middle managers composed of Division Chiefs, Officers-in-Charge (OICs) and Unit/Section Heads from the DSWD Central Office (CO) and field offices (FOs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and MIMAROPA through an external service provider last June 2016.

“We have always emphasized the importance of internal capacity development to ensure that service excellence, integrity and respect for well-being of individuals are applied in our work. Hence, it is important that we consider the growth of our most important resource, our employees,” said DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo.

The Department’s middle managers were assessed using a competency-based framework to measure their Intellectual Aptitude, Leadership Skills, Work Attitude/Habits/Behavior, and Socio-emotional Adjustment. The psychometric tests used by the service provider are standardized, research-based, and used norm-referenced (percentile and standard ten) against other managers globally.

Based on the results of the assessment released recently, the DSWD middle managers possessed the competencies, skills, and attribute that positively correlated to satisfactorily perform their managerial functions.

Their leadership competencies are capable of facilitating changes in the workplace and can adapt to a myriad of people and situations within a reasonable period. They possessed fairly developed analytical thinking, decision-making, and planning skills which enable them to make logical and effective solutions to various problem-solving situations.

Overall, the middle managers exhibited the competencies needed to handle a team, which included management of professional relationships, showed sufficient regard for their staff members’ concerns, and related with them on a more personal level. They make an effort to empower their subordinates by entrusting them with tasks and giving feedback.

Moreover, the results place the managerial competencies of DSWD Middle Managers at-par with international standards, which highlights their efficiency to perform well in their respective offices regardless of the composition of the top management.

“DSWD Division Heads perform vital roles in the achievement and implementation of our overall goals to provide prompt and compassionate delivery of services. I am grateful because of their dedication to their work and for working hard to exceed expectations in their respective tasks. I commend them for upholding and exhibiting the values of the agency,” the Secretary ended. ###