Social welfare is everything that men do for the good of society
Social welfare is the organized concern of all people for all people
Social welfare is the organized system of social services and institutions designed to aid individuals and groups to attain satisfying standards of life and health
Social welfare includes laws, programs, benefits, and services which assure or strengthen provisions for meeting social needs recognized as basic to the well-being of the population and the better functioning of the social order
There are three ways to respond to unmet needs include individual and group efforts, major societal institutions with designated roles and responsibilities, and social agencies
Two views of social welfare are residual formulation (temporary) and institutional formulation (legitimate)
Categories of social welfare programs include social security, personal social services, and public assistance
Social services refer to programs, services, and other activities provided under various auspices to concretely answer the needs and problems of the members of society
Social welfare goals include humanitarian and social justice goals, social control goal, and economic development goal
Social work is concerned with man's adjustment to his environment and social functioning
Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people
Causes of dysfunctioning can be personal inadequacies, situational inadequacies, or both
In the Philippines, social welfare during the Spanish Colonial Period included hospitals and asylums established to help the poor and destitute
La Gota de Leche established in 1907 to provide fresh cow's milk to child-caring institutions
Philippine Anti-Tuberculosis Society organized in 1910
Associacion de Damas Filipinas founded in 1913 to help destitute mothers and children
Office of the Public Welfare Commissioner created in 1921 under the Department of the Interior
Law passed in 1924 relating to child custody of neglected and delinquent children
Gov. Gen. Frank Murphy's administration in 1933 marked government's full responsibility for relief efforts
Josefa Jara Martinez introduced scientific approach in social work
Dr. Jose Fabella, Director of the Office of the Public Welfare Commission in the 1930s, known as Father of Social Welfare
The Commonwealth Period:
Transition period under Tydings-McDuffie Law from 1935-1945 in preparation for independence
Pres. Quezon passed anti-usury laws, labor laws, and relief boards were created
Office of the Commissioner of Health and Public Welfare abolished in 1940 and replaced by Department of Health and Public Welfare
The Japanese Occupation:
Japanese Occupation from 1942-1944 focused on medical care, food, and clothing for soldiers, prisoners, and civilians
Bureau of Public Welfare closed and reorganized by the Executive Commission
Relief primarily undertaken by volunteer organizations
Post-war Years:
Social Welfare Commission Services included child welfare work, public assistance, and coordination of public welfare activities
President's Action Committee on Social Amelioration created in 1948 for relief assistance
UNICEF became active in the Philippines in the late 1940s
Social Welfare Administration Programs:
Programs included short-term assistance and long-term service
Child Welfare Division and Division of Rural Social Welfare created in 1951
Self-help initiatives popular in rural areas
Department of Social Welfare Programs:
Programs included preventive and remedial programs, protective remedial and developmental welfare services, vocational rehabilitation, training, research, and special projects
The Seventies:
Pres. Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, focusing on community-oriented programs and services
Department of Social Services and Development shifted emphasis to community-oriented programs
Ministry of Social Services and Development adopted a parliamentary system
The Past Two Decades:
New Vision Mission of DSWD anchored with Ambisyon Natin 2040
Programs focused on poverty reduction, health care, and education
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Women:
RA No. 9710, known as “Magna Carta of Women” enacted on August 14, 2009
RA No. 10354, known as “Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act” enacted on December 23, 2021
RA No. 11210, known as “Expanded Maternity Leave Law” enacted on February 20, 2019
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Children:
RA No. 11596, known as “Prohibition of Child Marriage Law” enacted on December 10, 2021
RA No. 11642, known as “Domestic Administrative Adoption and Child Care Act” enacted on January 6, 2022, providing for simpler and inexpensive domestic administrative adoption proceedings and streamlining services for alternative child care
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Elderly:
RA No. 10911, known as “The Anti-Age Discrimination Act of 2016” enacted on July 21, 2016
RA No. 10868, known as “The Centenarian Act of 2016” enacted on June 23, 2016
RA No. 10645, known as “An Act Providing for the Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for all Senior Citizens” enacted on November 5, 2014
RA No. 9994, known as “The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” enacted on February 15, 2010
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Social Welfare in the Pandemic:
Social Amelioration Package (SAP) through the passage of RA No. 11494, known as “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” enacted on September 11, 2020 with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) taking the lead
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for United Registered Social Workers:
In response to CoVid-19, social workers organized themselves to provide Psychosocial Support (PSS) virtually
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Governance:
Mandanas-Garcia Ruling resulted in the expected increase in the local government’s share in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from the national government to at least 60% from the current 40%, i.e., full devolution
DSWD functions during full devolution include policy development, research development, standards setting and regulatory function, capacity building, technical assistance, resource augmentation, monitoring and evaluation, and program evaluation and audit
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Magna Carta for Public Social Workers:
RA No. 9433 enacted on April 11, 2007
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Family:
RA 8187 – Paternity Leave Act of 1996
RA 8396 – Family Courts Act of 1997
RA 11861 – Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act
RA 9208 – Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
RA 9995 – Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009
RA 10354 – The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012
RA 11036 – Mental Health Act
RA 11166 – Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act
RA 11291 – An Act Providing for a Magna Carta for the Poor
RA 11310 – An Act Institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4 Ps)
RA 9231 – An Act providing the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and affording stronger protection for the working child amending RA 7610
RA 9344 – Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006
RA 10630 – An Act Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System in the Philippines, amending RA 9344
RA 9523 – An Act requiring certification of the DSWD to declare legally available for adoption as a prerequisite for adoption proceedings
RA 9775 – Anti Child Pornography Act of 2009
RA 10165 – Foster Care Act of 2012
RA 10410 – An Act recognizing the age from 0-8 years as the first crucial stage of educational development and strengthening the early childhood care and development system, appropriating funds therefor
RA 10533 – Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013
RA 10821 – Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act
RA 10931 – Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act
RA 11188 – Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict
RA 11510 – Alternative Learning System Act
RA 11596 – Prohibition of Child Marriage
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Children and Youth:
PD 603 – The Child and Youth Welfare Code
RA 6972 – Barangay-Level Total Development and Protection of Children
RA 7610 – Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination
RA 7658 – An Act prohibiting the employment of children below 15 years of age in public and private undertakings
RA 8043 – Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995
RA 8044 – Youth in Nation-Building Act
RA 8552 – Domestic Adoption Act of 1998
RA 8980 – The Early Childhood Care and Development Act (ECCD)
RA 11642 – Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act
RA 9262 – Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004
RA 9710 – Magna Carta of Women
RA 9995 – Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009
RA 10354 – Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act
RA 11210 – Expanded Maternity Leave Law
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Women:
RA 6725 – An Act Strengthening the prohibition on discrimination against women with respect to terms and conditions of employment
RA 6955 – An Act to declare unlawful the practice of matching Filipino women for marriage to foreign nationals on a mail-order basis and other similar practices
RA 7192 – Women in Nation-Building Act of 1992
RA 7877 – Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995
RA 8353 – Anti-Rape Law of 1997
RA 8505 – Rape Victims Assistance and Protection Act of 1998
RA 9208 – Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Elderly:
RA 7432 – Senior Citizens Act of 1992
RA 7876 – An Act establishing a Senior Citizens Center in all cities and municipalities of the Philippines and appropriating funds thereof
RA 9994 – Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010
RA 10645 – Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for All Senior Citizens
RA 10868 – Centenarian Act of 2016
RA 10911 – Anti-Age Discrimination Act of 2016
RA 11350 – National Commission of Senior Citizens Act
RA 11916 – An Act increasing the social pension of indigent senior citizens and appropriating funds therefor, amending RA 7432
Philippines Social Welfare Developments for Differently-abled Persons:
BP 344 – Accessibility Law
RA 7277 – Magna Carta of Disabled Persons
RA 9442 – An Act amending RA 7277 granting additional privileges and incentives and prohibitions on verbal, non-verbal ridicule and vilification against persons with disability
RA 3562 – An Act to Promote the Education of the Blind in the Philippines
RA 6759 – White Care Act
RA 10754 – An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of PWDs
RA 11228 – An Act Providing for the Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage of All PWDs amending for the purpose RA 7277