The Standards Bureau (SB), which oversees the Department’s regulatory and quality assurance, recently released two key guidelines. These guidelines aim to strengthen both child care programs and the Bureau’s Area-Based Standards Network (ABSNet). These new issuances, DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 7 and No. 08, both series of 2025, underscored the government’s commitment to upholding the welfare of vulnerable sectors.

DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 7, series of 2025, specifically outlines the “Guidelines on the Implementation of Adoption and Alternative Child Care Programs in all Public and Private Residential-Based Social Work Agencies (SWAs) Catering to Children.” This circular is set to streamline and standardize the processes involved in providing safe, nurturing, and permanent alternative care options for children who are orphaned, abandoned, neglected, or otherwise in need of protection. It emphasizes the importance of the child’s best interests in all decisions related to adoption and alternative care, ensuring that every child receives appropriate placement and reintegration mechanisms. The guidelines are expected to enhance the quality of residential care facilities and promote more efficient and child-centric practices across all public and private SWAs.

Concurrently, the SB also issued DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 08, Series of 2025, titled “Revised Guidelines in the Organization, Mobilization, and Strengthening of Area-Based Standards Network (ABSNet).” The ABSNet plays an important role in the DSWD regulatory and quality assurance functions. This revised circular aims to strengthen the network’s capacity to monitor compliance with established standards, provide technical assistance to Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs), and foster collaboration among various stakeholders, including Local Government Units (LGUs) and government-run facilities. By strengthening the ABSNet, the DSWD seeks to ensure the continuous implementation of high-quality programs and services for disadvantaged sectors nationwide.

These new guidelines demonstrate the Bureau’s ongoing efforts to adapt and improve social welfare policies, aligning them with current directives and addressing concerns raised by field offices and ABSNet officers. They signify a significant step towards a more strong and responsive social welfare system in the Philippines, ultimately benefiting children in need of alternative care and strengthening the overall delivery of social services across the country. 

To access the newly-approved guidelines, you may visit this link: https://www.dswd.gov.ph/issuances-6262/?action=OpenMC