Quezon City- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Cordillera Administrative Region bagged four national awards from the recently concluded DSWD 63rd Anniversary celebration.

Social Worker Edna Benitez was conferred the Best Center Head Award while Ivy Jane Velano and Rosewald Bumosao of the Sustainable Livelihood Program won the 3rd place in the Frame it Up! Photo- Essay Contest. Jomel Anthony Gutierrez of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program was also able to take home two special awards including Most Responsive Photo and Most Responsive Photo Set in the same contest. Social Worker Judith Bacwaden was also among the top three performers nationwide under the Best Technical Staff- Professional category.

DSWD-CAR Regional Director Leonardo C. Reynoso expressed happiness over these recognitions. “These (recognitions) validate our efforts in ensuring that we are able to provide best services through the most efficient and effective human resource that we have in the Region.”, Director Reynoso said.

Meanwhile, some 80 other officials and employees of the Department who have rendered 10 to 45 years of service in the DSWD have also been recognized. Among the Loyalty Awardees is Director Reynoso who has been with the Department 30 years now.

In the said event, Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman stressed that the awards given during the anniversary serves as the recognition to the DSWD officials and personnel who are often not acknowledged for their service. On the other hand, President Benigno Aquino III in vernacular commended the entire DSWD workforce for having a job well done despite the continuous and massive operations that had to be done in 2013. Both have challenged the DSWD workforce to continuously provide “mas malawak, mas mabilis at mas pangmatagalang serbisyo” no matter how difficult the situation may seem.

The DSWD 63rd Anniversary with the theme “DSWD@63: Kaagapay sa Pagbangon at Bagong Simula” was highlighted with the Loyalty Awards and the awarding ceremony of the agency’s Programs on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) which aims to recognize DSWD officials and personnel who have committed and excelled in giving service to the people. Another highlight of this year’s celebration is a nation-wide photo-essay contest which aimed to increase the participation and awareness of the DSWD workforce towards the achievement of the Department’s strategic goals. # NFGV, DSWD-CAR Social Marketing Unit