TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of contents 1

Chapter 1: Background and Historical Account of the Department 2

I. Introduction 2
II. Background of the Department 3
A. Significant events and major breakthroughs 3
B. Personalities involved 5

Organizational Structure 6

Scope and limitations 7

Significance of the departmental research 7

Chapter 2: Department status, Problems and Policy Implications

I. Current programs of the department 8

II. Problems of the department 12
III. Specific government policies to address the problem 13
IV. Discussion on the strength and limitation 14

Chapter 3: Presentation, Interpretation and Analysis of Data 15

Chapter 4: Areas for Future Policy Prescriptions

I. Discussion of policy 20
II. Prospect of the department 21

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 CHAPTER 1
BACKGROUND AND HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE DEPARTMENT

I. Introduction

The Philippines, more than most countries in the world, has long been dealing with the
ever-present issue of poverty. Being featured in foreign documentaries of third world countries
has become a usual thing for Filipinos as if watching this country behind a television screen is
like looking at the landscape of the meek. However, this hasn’t always been the case. Back then,
the Philippines was considered a tiger economy. Now, what’s dubbed as the sick man of Asia is
trying to regain the power economy that was once his, varying how it prioritizes the different
departments that keep it going, including and especially the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).

This is where the DSWD plays a vital role in the economy as an indispensable institution
of the Philippines. The people of the Philippines, next to its resources, have always been its best
asset in all of its endeavors. It takes pride in its work force in and out of the country. In order to
maximize this advantage, it is highly important that the general well-be ing of the public is being
cared for.

However, it is also very evident that efforts of the aforementioned department do not
seem to transcribe to the streets wherein the people witness poverty on their daily commute.
Except on areas that strictly prohibit their presence, there will always be those seeking alms –
mendicants, informal settlers, or beggars.

The problem is not merely the growing rate of Filipinos who are considered poor; more
to that, what is alarming is the widening gap between them and those who are excessively
wealthy.

It is in this light that we discuss how DSWD is doing to address the said concerns.

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 II. Background of the Department

From its name itself, the Department of Social Welfare and Development exists to promote
the rights of each and every individual, geared towards obtaining a society of equals to provide a
better future for this and generations to come.

Primarily, the DSWD envisions a society where the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged
families and communities are empowered for an improved quality of life. Moreover, its mission
is to provide social protection and promote the rights and welfare of the poor, vulnerable and the
disadvantaged individual, family and community contribute to poverty alleviation and
empowerment through SWD policies, programs, projects and services implemented with or
through LGUs, NGOs, POs, other GOs and other members of civil society.

The DSWD has also laid out five main goals which are as follows: (1) formulation and
advocacy of a just and responsive SWD legislative agenda, policies and plans, as well as
ensuring their effective implementation, (2) Identification, development and marketing of
technologies for building up social capital, (3) SWD standards to protect the rights of the poor
and the disadvantaged to quality services, (4) Provision of technical assistance and resource
augmentation to intermediaries in the implementation of SWD programs and services, (5)
Provision of preventive, protective, rehabilitative and development programs and services.

A. Significant events and major breakthrough

There is a rich history behind the DSWD that we know today for it has undergone many
changes in name and concept before the current one came about. Before the Second World War,
social welfare was not considered as a basic function of the state. There were only a handful of
groups that undertook the responsibilities of social work during the first decade of the American
era in the Philippines. Social welfare as a priority only materialized subsequent to the war as the
Philippine government decided to solidify it by putting it as one of its departments.

It all traces back to 1915 when the Public Welfare Board (PWB) was formed. It used to
study, coordinate and regulate all entities engaged in social work and services, including both

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government and private organizations. The PWB was however abolished come 1921 to be
replaced by the Bureau of Public Welfare which was under the Department of Public Instruction.

Nineteen years after the said date, Commonwealth Act No. 439 created the Department
of Health and Public Welfare. It turned out that the Bureau of Public Welfare was not totally lost
as it officially formed part of the Department of Health and Public Welfare during 1941. The
Bureau handled all public child-caring institutions, the provision of child welfare services, and
coordinated services of all public and private social welfare institutions.

Enter then President Manuel A. Roxas – he abolished the Bureau of Public Welfare and
replaced it with the Social Welfare Commission under the Office of the President year 1947.

By 1948 when President Elpidio Quirino assumed his position, the President’s Action
Committee on Social Amelioration (PACSA) was created for socio-economic reforms. Its
primary objective was to counteract social unrest. By 1951, an integrated public welfare program
came about when the SWC and the PACSA were merged into the Social Welfare Administration
(SWA). SWA as a Department materialized during 1968 when the Republic Act 5416, known as
the Social Welfare Act of 1968. It was placed under the executive branch and attained an equal
status with other social agencies such as health and education.

Subsequently in 1976, the Department of Social Welfare changed its name to Department
of Social Services and Development (DSSD) when then President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed
his Presidential Decree No. 994. Finally, the Department was able to acquire a more solid and
accurate identity as an institution. It also improved in terms of productivity and development. A
couple of years after, the DSSD was again renamed as Ministry of Social Services and
Development (MSSD) when the form of government went from presidential to parliamentary.

By the time President Corazon C. Aquino was already seated, the MSSD was again
renamed as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as we know it now,
through Executive Order 123. Executive Order No. 292, more known as the Revised
Administration Code of 1987, established the name, structure, functions and responsibilities of
the DSWD.

After the implementation of the Local Government Code of 1991, DSWD’s repositioning
efforts were strengthened by then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada who issued Executive order

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No. 15 “Redirecting the Functions and Operations of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development”.

Come 2003 during former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration,

Executive Order No. 221 was issued to amend Executive Order No. 15. It defined the mandate,
roles, powers and functions of the DSWD. By the 28th of January year 2005, DSWD’s
Rationalization and Streaming Plan (RSP) was approved by the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM). It was implemented for the next five years after the given date.

Up until today, after the many amendments in name, structure and goals, the DSWD still
continues all its functions and performs its duties that play a vital role in maintaining the general
well-being of the persons involved and benefited therein.

B. Personalities involved

A department is greatly influenced by the leader handling its system and policies.

Corazon “Dinky‟ Soliman is the current secretary of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development in the Philippines appointed by President Benigno Aquino in 2010. She once
held the position under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001 who later resigned in
2005 because of the Hello Garci scandal.

The four undersecretaries of the DSWD are listed as follows: Dr. Angelita Y. Gregorio-
Medel is currently undersecretary of the Institutional Development Group, and representative to
the Cabinet Assistance System. Mateo G. Montaño is also an undersecretary of the General
Administration and Support Services Group. Parisya H. Taradji is another undersecretary of the
Operations and Programs Group.

Florita R. Villar is the undersecretary of Policy and Plans Group. Under undersecretary
Taradiji, there are three assistant secretaries for each programs. Vilma B. Cabrera is the assistant
secretary for the Protective Programs. Camilo G. Gudmalin is the assistant secretary for the
Promotive Programs. Lastly, Teodulo R. Romo, Jr. is the assistant secretary for the Support
Programs. Under the General Administration and Services Group, the assistant secretary is

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Rodolfo M. Santos and the secretary of the Office of the Secretary group is Javier R. Jimenez.
Margarita Ana L. Perez is the Head Executive Assistant of the DSWD.

Organizational structure

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

ATTACHED AGENCIES

OFFICE OF UNDERSECRETARIES AND - NCWDP

ASSISTANT SECRETARIES - INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTION BOARD

Admin. Financial HRDMS Legal Mgmt Social

Services Mgmt. Service Information Marketing
Service System Service
Service

Policy Dev. Social Standards Program Social

& Plans Technology Bureau Mgmt Welfare
Bureau Bureau Bureau Institutional
Developme
nt Bureau

FIELD OFFICES (15)

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Scope and Limitations

This study shall include the annual reports of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development and its operations. It covers its historical accounts, the structure, the objective,
progress, and the people involved and playing a major role therein.

It does not tackle other departments of the government except the DSWD. Likewise, it
only covers events, budget allocations and activities from the years 1998 up to 2014.

Moreover, this study is limited to the analysis of the appropriated budgets during the
given years and to the assessment of the performance of the department from the perspective of
economics.

Significance of the departmental research

This study is primarily conducted for further understanding of the fiscal policy in the
Philippines, specifically on how it works on the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Social Welfare and Development is one of the services that the government provides to its
people and it is only essential that its beneficiaries are aware not just of the programs it offers
and the services it renders, but of how highly the government prioritizes all these. As the source
of the funds that make all actions of the DSWD possible, the Filipino, including and especially
the taxpayers, should be informed on how much of their contribution are being allotted to this
specific department.

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 CHAPTER 2
DEPARTMENT STATUS, PROBLEMS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

Current programs of the department

Primarily, the DSWD classifies its programs into four types: Center-based Services,
Community-based Services, Residential Care Services, and Social Welfare and Development
Trainings. Firstly, all services that are conducted inside facilities whose clients are those who
have families to return to after the said treatment or developmental activity are called Center-
based. It also caters to those clients who have to keep coming back for a maximum of three
weeks for thorough diagnosis and treatment. Secondly, programs that prevent, rehabilitate and
develop fall under Community-based Services. It focuses on the basic unit of society to cure
needs and issues of children, women, and persons with disabilities (PWD), youth and the like.
Thirdly, Residential Care Services include projects that involve a day of alternative family care
to persons who are poor and disadvantaged who, at the same time, cannot be met by their
original families for a long period of time. Lastly, Social Welfare and Development Trainings are
handed out by the department to local government units who are in need of the former’s laid out
programs.

In order to identify which individuals and families are to be considered poor and to point
out where they can be found, the Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for
Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) was established. This is being used by the programs
implemented by the DSWD.

The succeeding paragraphs will discuss DSWDs programs in detail.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or more commonly known as 4Ps, is DSWD’s

main human development program. Mainly, it seeks to provide and invest for households living
under the poverty line by giving assistance to their education and health. Targeting mostly
children aged 1-18, it aims to give cash grants to its beneficiaries to fulfill their schooling and
nutritional deficiencies.
In assisting both the short and long term needs of people, Pantawid Pamilya had come up
with two main objectives – the Social Assistance and Social Development. Social assistance

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provides monetary aid to the poor to address their immediate needs with feeding programs being
the most common example. Social development on the other hand, focuses more on the long
term process of lessening if not eradicating the intergenerational poverty cycle by investing in
human capital, and contributing to schooling, housing and the like for the beneficiaries’ general
well-being.

By the most recent data released which was the 2011 annual report, there had been a
massive expansion in the enrolment of household beneficiaries, increasing to a total of 1.3
million. Moreover, the total beneficiary-households rose up to 2.3 million. Of the 21 billion
budget allocated to the department that said year, 17.1 billion was the total investment given to
eligible and compliant household-beneficiaries. Half of that 17.1 billion, 8.3 billion went to
health. The remaining 8.8 billion was allocated for education.

The program was able to accommodate more than 1.3 million children from 3-5 years
old.

DSWD Budget

19%
4Ps investment in
39% health
4Ps investment in
education
other expenses

42%

Another program by the DSWD is the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) which
serves as a follow-up to the 4Ps. Also, it caters to those included in the Listahanan.

A one-time assistance, no matter how helpful or long-term, cannot be expected to

guarantee that the help provided will be maintained throughout a beneficiary’s life. With this, the
SLP focuses on sustaining the benefits gained by the beneficiaries of the 4Ps. Participants were

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to choose between availing of the Micro-enterprise Development track and the Employment
Facilitation track. Subsequently, participants are organized into groups for easier monitoring of
their given livelihood projects and for assurance that they are capable and self-sustaining. Under
the Micro-enterprise Development track, participants are to gather their resources into groups,
also called the Self-employment Assistance-Kaunlaran Associations (SKA). Due to this,
resources are maximized within their respective groups and are easier observed.

Under the SLP program, more than 38,000 families were provided capital assistance so
they would be able to start small-scale businesses to provide for their own. The total allocation
for that was 287.9 million.

In addition, another program, the Social Pension Program served 122,678 older persons
in 2011. The Supplementary Feeding Program for children in day care centers ensured the good
nutrition of 1,687,605 children nationwide. Small-scale farmers and fisherfolks were provided
with temporary employment during lean months through the Rice Subsidy Program, reaching
1,425,343 beneficiaries. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were likewise served by the
Department through the Cash/Food for Work Program, benefiting a total of 46,346 individuals.
Qualified disaster stricken families which lost their houses were provided with shelter assistance
through the Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) which reached 2,033 families. In addition,
conflict affected communities were also provided with the needed service through the Payapa at
Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program.

In the recent years, one of DSWD’s greatest feats has been when super typhoon Yolanda
has hit Tacloban in the Philippines. DSWD had already extended P10.6 million worth of relief
assistance to the affected regions. The department has also distributed checks worth P2 billion as
shelter assistance to survivors of the calamity in nine local government units in northern Cebu.

Additionally, and adoption forum with the theme “Legal na Ampon Ako: Anak na Totoo”
(A Child Finds Worth in Legal Adoption) was conducted on the third of February at the Makati
Palace Hotel at Makati City. There being a significant number of poor people, not all which
DSWD can practically accommodate, the importance of adoption and foster care was stressed in
the said forum. A new family is provided for abandoned and neglected children under the
responsibility of DSWD. In this light, the said program is being supported by Republic Act 9253

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or ”An Act Requiring Certification of the DSWD to Declare a Child Legally Available for
Adoption is commonly being used and discussed about.

Attached Agencies

DSWD works with four attached agencies, namely Council for the Welfare of Children or
CWC, Inter-Country Adoption Board or the ICAB, National Council on Disability Affairs
(NCDA), and the National Youth Commission (NYC).

The Council for Welfare of Children mainly aims to integrate children’s development
agenda with both local and national plans being made.

The Inter-Country Adoption Board, on the other hand, supports DSWD’s adoption
consciousness celebration, and conducts programs such as special home finding, post legal
adoption services for continuous support of adopted children, gives guidelines on the amendment
of birth certificates, hosting programs and authorization on foreign adoption agencies.

The National Council on Disability Affairs gears towards full participation of persons
with disability and promotes their equal rights and opportunities to level themselves among the
rest of the people in the Philippines. This national government agency formulates policies and
coordinates with the activities of other agencies regardless if public or private, that is concerned
with disabled persons.

Moreover, it makes sure that all implemented laws concerning persons with disabilities to
guarantee all of their civil rights.

Lastly, the National Youth Commission provides programs and projects for the youth for
them to be able to develop and empower their potentials. It enables the youth to get opportunities
to be an active partner in building the nation and be of service to the country. The creation of
new policies and advocacies for youth development also allows the NYC to push for reforms and
the creation of new measures to implement better services for the youth and the communities.

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Problems of the Department

Although the DSWD’s 4Ps looks and sounds fool-proof, it does not complete live up to
its ideal vision for the society. For starters, the 4Ps try to eradicate five major social concerns
which are (1) extreme poverty and hunger, (2) inability to achieve universal primary education,
(3) gender inequality, (4) child mortality, and (5) alarming problems as regards maternal health.

However, lawmakers in the Lower House are beginning to question the effectiveness of
the said program. During the department’s budget hearing year 2014, lawmakers criticized
DSWD secretary Dinky Soliman on the department’s inefficiency despite its very large budget.
The DSWD's proposed budget for 2015 is P108.8 billion ($2.4 billion), or approximately a 31%
increase from this year's budget. It is the third-highest budget among all government agencies.
According to lawmakers, if the department had already claimed that the poverty level decreased
along with the number of beneficiaries, then there should not be any increase in the budget.

It was likewise pointed out by the lawmakers as to why the budget remained high despite
a decline in the number of people it has to support. An increase in budget cannot be directly
relied upon when eradicating all forms of poverty is concerned. Ultimately, the implementation
and the quality of programs and benefits funded by its budget will be the main determinant of the
effectiveness and advantage brought about by the increase of money.

Likewise, it is not solely the ambiguous amount of budget that that had people talking,
but also the kinds of beneficiaries these funds are going to. According to the state auditors, it is
worrisome that DSWD is failing to validate a list of its beneficiaries despite promises of
meticulously segregating qualified and deserving households to those that do not need assistance.
This is not only unfair to the 1.85 million needy families who were not covered by the 4Ps, but it
also considered as an improper utilization of government resources. Doubtful CCT beneficiaries
were found to be in Baguio, Abra, Apayao, Batangas and Iloilo as some of them were discovered
to own big concrete houses with families already earning a steady income from regular jobs.
Others had a family member employed as a police officer, barangay official, public school
teacher or staff in the city or municipal hall.

Aligned with the first issue of the DSWD pointed out, lawmakers also argued that the
Listahanan is not as effective, as there are still records of leakage or the inclusion of those who

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are not actually poor, and deprivation or the exclusion of some poor people in the list of
beneficiaries.

As mentioned in the previously as a current program of the department, DSWD extended

its support to victims of super typhoon Yolanda. According to reports, however, thousands of
relief goods that are worth millions were wasted due to spoilage when it could have alleviated
the lives of the typhoon survivors.

According to the report, which was posted on the COA website, some 7,527 family food
packs worth P2.7 million went to waste due to improper handling in Yolanda devastated areas.

Specific government policies to address the problem

DSWD had come up with systematic solutions to many of its concerns, but there are also
some misalignments between the problems raised and the answers provided. For one, Social
Welfare Secratry Corazon Soliman welcomed the recent signing of the law that strengthens the
Juvenile Justice System in the Philippines, amending RA 9344.

It also aims to better the “Youth Rehabilitation Center”, which is a care facility, managed
by the DSWD, tasked to provide care, treatment and rehabilitation services for anyone especially
the children who are in conflict with the law.

Additionally, the United Nations World Programme partnered with DPWH Philippines in
order to build capacity for disaster preparedness in the country. It addresses the concerns of the
slow movement of relief operations for people who urgently need the help. The collaboration
involves prepositioning of relief items and operational support equipment, training programs that
highlight disaster response, logistics and supply management. There were policy proposal of the
DSWD created to address current problems that it is having. A rationalized planning system or
RPS was conceptualized to create a harmonious planning and budgeting processes between
national and local levels.

There were also Executive Orders aiming to strengthen these programs for better
efficiency. During Arroyo’s term, she issued EO no. 221 that read: “Executive Order no. 221,

13
amending Executive Order No. 15 Series of a998, Entitled “Redirecting the functions and
operations of the Department of social Welfare and Development”.

In addition, Administrative Order No. 16, series of 2008 was issued by the DSWD on
2008, which sets implementing guidelines for the 4Ps. Its main objective is to transform from
direct service deliverer to technical assistance provider as a result of the devolution of basic
services to the local government units.

Discussion on the strength and limitation

The DSWD’s roles and functions have expanded over the past 54 years, and its number
of years existing has become one of its greatest strengths. Executive Order No.15, signed by
President Joseph Ejercito Estrada on the 20th of August1998, redirected the functions and
operations of the Department from direct service provider to technical assistance provider. Now,
it operates nationwide through 14 line bureaus and support offices, 16 regional offices and two
attached agencies with a workforce consisting of almost 5000 competent and dedicated
employees.
On the other hand, it is excessively arduous and difficult to provide basic needs of a
single family, more so all of the millions of poor families across the Philippines – and it will not
end there. On a positive note, DSWD has extension of its programs after the basic needs so that
all of its efforts will not be wasted as these families will be encouraged to start a small
livelihood. The DSWD create policies and plans on how the development and delivery of social
welfare and development services will be most effective. It also improve and enrich existing
programs and services especially for the children and youth, women, family and communities,
solo parents, older persons and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
However, there are limitations.
It is not certain that the budget is being maximized for two main reasons: first, despite the
decreasing volume of beneficiaries, it seems as if the continually increasing budget still cannot
accommodate all expenses. Second, not all of it is given to people who are in most need of the
support as some of its beneficiaries are said to be financially stable even before they have
received help.

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 CHAPTER 3

PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

In cases like this, it cannot be denied that figures and statistics can speak for themselves
louder than just words. As a department’s budget can be compared to the gasoline that keeps it
running, it is highly important that an analysis will first go through details in number to further
understand the current state of the department.

Table 3.1 – Rank of top 8 most prioritized departments for the past six years

RANK 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

1 DepEd DepEd DepEd DepEd DepEd DepEd
2 DND DILG DND DND DILG DILG
3 DILG DND DILG DILG DND DSWD
4 DOTC DA DA DA DA DND
5 DFA DOTC DSWD DSWD DSWD DA
6 DENR DSWD DOTC DOTC DOTC DOTC
7 DSWD DFA DENR DENR DENR DENR
8 DA DENR DFA DFA DFA DFA

Names of the departments in color blue indicates that its budget for had increased that
given year as compared to the previous year, while those in red means that the budget had
decreased.

The Aquino administration started halfway through 2010. In the following years, the
DSWD noticeably ranked higher in priority. It has been included from the top five priority of the
country since then. Its importance reached its peak year 2014 possibly due to the typhoon
Yolanda which wiped out an entire city therefore resulting to people in need of much support.

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 Table 3.2 – Data on DSWD’s percentage share and percentage change

YEAR NATIONAL DSWD % SHARE % CHANGE

BUDGET
2014 2,265,000,000,000 83,304,463,000 3.68 47.88
2013 2,006,000,000,000 56,333,858,000 2.81 15.50
2012 1,816,000,000,000 48,772,175,000 2.68 42.63
2011 1,645,000,000,000 34,193,917,000 2.08 123.28
2010 1,542,000,000,000 15,314,440,000 0.99 44.16
2009 1,415,000,000,000 10,623,500,000 0.75 64.76
2008 1,227,000,000,000 6,447,813,000 0.52 81.27
2007 1,126,000,000,000 3,557,116,000 0.31 55.62
2006 918,000,000,000 2,285,681,000 0.25 0
2005 918,000,000,000 2,285,681,000 0.25 25.87
2004 804,200,000,000 1,807,641,000 0.22 0
2003 804,200,000,000 1,807,641,000 0.22 -16.15
2002 779,976,000,000 2,155,778,000 0.27 33.57
2001 648,974,000,000 1,614,024,000 0.25 0
2000 648,974,000,000 1,614,024,000 0.25
1999 590,160,000,000
1998 512,496,000,000

Years highlighted in red represents the Estrada administration, those two shades of gray
represent former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s regime, while those in yellow stand for
Aquino’s term.

In 2009, DSWD was not a priority during the Arroyo administration. During Aquino’s
term, DSWD gradually became a priority and there had been continuous increase in its
percentage share in the National Budget. The biggest change in the percentage occurred in year
2011 which was the first full year in PNoy’s term, there was a 123% difference compared to
2010. Relatively there was a much bigger percentage change in the department’s budget than the
increase in that year’s budget.

Next highest after the 2010 was the 2014 budget when DSWD’s funds peaked when it
reach 83 billion pesos.

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 Graph 3.1
DSWD annual budget 1998-2014
90,000,000,000

80,000,000,000

70,000,000,000

60,000,000,000

50,000,000,000

40,000,000,000

30,000,000,000

20,000,000,000

10,000,000,000

0
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

DSWD

It is undeniable that the budget had been increasing through the years, but what is very
notable is when it suddenly boomed starting 2010. Prior to that, there were only gradual
increases up until 2007. Years 2008 to 2010, there were noticeable differences but the real
priority became evident on years 2011 to 2013. As of press time, the highest had been on year
2014 and it was said that the 2015 budget will be the biggest one yet, reaching over a hundred
billion pesos.

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 Graph 3.2
DSWD budget percentage change 2000-2014
140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014
-20

-40

Change

Although the budget usually increases continuously every year and the graph prior to the
one above shows that the line graph goes up, the growth every year is not always constant. The
varying points in the graph shown above is indicative that the budget for the DSWD’s budget is
not consistent every year as priorities change depending on the goals laid out by the president. Its
lowest happened in 2003 as the budget decreased, but the lowest increase that happened was in
2013. Notably, the budget is still relatively

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 Graph 3.4
Growth of National Budget, 1998-present
2,500,000,000,000

2,000,000,000,000

1,500,000,000,000

GAA

1,000,000,000,000 DSWD

500,000,000,000

0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Talk about the General Appropriations Act and how much of this is allocated to the
Department of Social Welfare and Development – both had been increasing. If one looks closely
to the graph it can be noted that the percentage share of the DSWD can hardly be visible up until
2008. It is only noticed years 2010 and its biggest share yet was during 2014 having 3.68 percent
of the National Budget.

It may be relatively small compared to the entirety of the National Budget, but the latter
is being split up into many departments, GOCCs, SUCs and other priorities including the yearly
payment of its ever-increasing debts from other countries.

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 CHAPTER 4
AREAS FOR FUTURE POLICY PRESCRIPTIONS

Areas for Future Policy Prescriptions

Discussion of policy

There had been several policies created to strengthen the current programs being held by the
DSWD. For one, during Arroyo’s term, she issued EO no. 221 that read: “Executive Order no.
221, entitled “Redirecting the functions and operations of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development”.

Sec. 2 laid out the roles of the DSWD, the first one discussing that it shall be he enabler of
LGUs, NGOs, other NGAs, POs and other members of civil society in implementing social
welfare and development programs including disaster management. They shall also Implement
(i) residential care and center-based programs and services serving the whole region.

Furthermore, Sec. 3 provides the Powers and Functions of the DSWD which read: “Set
standards, accredit and provide consultative services to public and private institutions,
organizations and persons engaged in social welfare activities, and monitor, performance and
compliance to standards by institutions, organizations and persons engaged in social welfare
activities, both public and private”

These policies should be further improved.

To improve each activity, there should also be rules on the facilities – they shall be of
quality, not necessarily up to date, but efficient to maximize the huge budget. Workers are also
not given importance, and thus, more social workers should also be hired to cover more areas in
a quicker time. It will address the problem of not being able to reach those who truly need the
support by the DSWD as more beneficiaries will be found by the social workers.

However, it is ironic how outside the DSWD-NCR building, there can be seen so many
beggars and homeless people. In relation to this issue, this policy could have been less vague on
defining the powers and functions of the DSWD so their acts may be felt even more; the
standards could have been set, consultative services could have been defined and specified how
much the DSWD could and should contribute to the said welfare activities. Also, there should be

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another policy that lays out not merely guidelines, but well-researched and steps and methods to
ensure effectivity of every activity it conducts.

Another policy is the Administrative Order No. 16, series of 2008 was issued by the DSWD
on 2008. It sets implementing guidelines for the 4Ps. It read that eligible households that are
selected from priority target areas consisting of the poorest provinces classified by the National
Statistical Coordination Board (NCSB) 8 are granted a health assistance of P500.00/month, or
P6,000.00/year, and an educational assistance of P300.00/month for 10 months, or a total of
P3,000.00/year, for each child but up to a maximum of three children per family. After an
assessment on the appropriate assistance package, a household beneficiary could receive from
the government an annual subsidy for its basic needs up to an amount of P15,000.00.

This policy could further be structured and clear on its criteria in defining an “eligible
household” because not all those who live in the poorest provinces are considered excessively
poor and in need of monetary assistance. There should be a law that outlines the kind of lifestyle
a family should be having, which is also concerned with the properties they own, more than just
inquiring about their yearly income brought about the jobs they are working, or the lack thereof.
Prospect of the department

Prospect of the Department

The DSWD had laid out millennial goals for it to achieve. The well managed developed
social welfare and development program includes specific goals they should have attained by
2030. Firstly, functions are developed and properly managed. Second, DSWD will be seen as a
“steerer” for the implementation of social welfare and development programs. Third, DSWD
orchestrates efforts for social welfare and development programs. Last of these is aiming for
sustainable agency and projects and programs.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development should focus on the implementation
and quality of its projects rather than the creation of new ones. Poverty is better addressed when
it is prevented in the future, so SLP should be further strengthened and widened so it can
accommodate more people; DSWD should make sure that more than half of the beneficiaries of
the 4Ps graduate to being part of the SLP program.

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 More than partnering with organizations with the same intentions, the DSWD could
strengthen its partnership with the people like the families, and the “Legal na ampon ako: Anak
na totoo” should be held more than once to raise awareness of a bigger audience.

An increase in budget cannot be directly relied upon when eradicating all forms of
poverty is concerned. Annually, there is an evident increase in the funds of the department, and
it is also ranking higher in terms of the highest allocation of budget. With this, the department
should focus on improving the programs it already has. More people especially in the remote
areas are still not aware of the benefits the department can offer; consequently, it should also
spend on enticing potential beneficiaries to apply for the grants they offer.

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