DSWD 7 licenses, accredits 8 social welfare development agencies

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 awarded certificates of registration and licenses to two Social Welfare Development Agencies (SWDAs) and certificates of accreditation to six other SWDAs last Jan. 28.

These were the Pagtambayayong Foundation Inc., My Refuge House Ministry Inc., Passerelles Numeriques Philippines Foundation Inc., Nature’s Spring Foundation Inc. and Vicsal Foundation Inc.

The other SWDAs were Glory Reborn Organization Inc., Children’s Shelter of Cebu Inc.,Kalihukan sa Kaluoy Inc., and the Ernesto “Asay” Yu Foundation Inc.

According to DSWD, Central Visayas has 58 registered SWDAs, 64 accredited SWDAs, 17 registered auxiliary social welfare agencies (people’s organization and resource agency) and two accredited local government unit centers.

DSWD 7 Director Rebecca Geamala said these institutions are committed to provide social welfare and development programs to the public.

The DSWD 7 registers, licenses and accredits these SWDAs to ensure their effectiveness, efficiency and accountability in delivering social services.

Social worker Rose Ann Ababa, executive director of My Refuge House Ministry Inc., said that their organization provides residential-based programs and services for victim-survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and online sexual exploitation of children.

She expressed her gratitude for the certificate of accreditation given by the DSWD 7.

“We are happy to have been accredited for two years already. We are grounded in the belief that relationship and grace are the foundations of our service. This accreditation really speaks for all the things that we do for the past years,” Ababa said.

Geamala appreciated the support her office got from the SWDAs.

“We need to work together as a team. We need to be united,” she said.