Ushering  in the new year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to celebrate its 68th year anniversary of serving the public from January 21 to 25 with activities highlighting its mandate to help the poor and the vulnerable sectors towards positive change.

On January 3, the DSWD commemorated its founding anniversary with the theme, “DSWD: Katuwang sa Pagbabago (Partners for Change),” emphasizing the importance of serving the public towards positive transformation.

The need to improve and reinvent was emphasized by DSWD Secretary Rolando D. Bautista in his anniversary message to employees “to better serve and alleviate the conditions of the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged members of our society.”

Sec. Bautista added that the DSWD must work towards helping the clients it serves towards positive transformation. 

“We must not let the persons, families, and communities’ difficulties in life get the better of them.  We must make them feel that they are valuable members of society with a capacity to make a contribution,” he said.

The Secretary emphasized that collectively, every single program of  the Department must empower the beneficiaries to achieve their full potential.

Sec. Bautista also thanked the employees for their dedication saying, “Nais ko ring pasalamatan ang DSWD family, lalo na sa suportang ipinagkaloob sa akin kaya mabilis nating naaaksiyunan ang mga bagyo at sakuna (I also thank my DSWD family for the support enabling us to deliver prompt action during disasters).”

For this year’s anniversary, the Secretary enjoined all employees to accept the challenge to render transformative public service.

“I ask everyone to join me in making a resolve this year, 2019, to render public service with a clarity of purpose, accompanied by the grace of honesty, selflessness, compassion and courteousness topped by genuine sincerity of effort and motivated by the deed of transparency and accountability of all the Department’s funds and resources imbued with a sense of nationality,” he said.

Meanwhile, in celebration of its anniversary, the Department will hold a sportsfest including the popular fitness competition, “The Biggest Loser, DSWD Edition”;  employees’ bazaar; ecumenical service; clean-up of Manila Bay; and, simultaneous  bloodletting activity  by the Central Office and some DSWD Field Offices. Other Field offices will hold their bloodletting activities in February during their regional anniversary celebration. 

The celebration  will be capped by a culminating event showcasing the talents of employees in the DSWD Got Talent competition and recognizing staff who have rendered five to 40 years in service through the Loyalty Awards. ###