The Standards Bureau (SB) successfully conducted 12 Pre-Marriage Counselor (PMC) training sessions over the 4th Quarter of 2025. This intensive effort has led to the accreditation of 234 new Pre-Marriage Counselors by the Bureau as of December 12, 2025, significantly strengthening the roster of professionals providing this vital service.

This training and accreditation initiative is rooted in the mandate of Executive Order (EO) No. 209, or The Family Code of the Philippines. The Code requires the DSWD to accredit social workers and/or professionals, from both the private and public sectors, who offer Pre-Marriage Orientation and Counseling (PMOC). These services are a prerequisite for soon-to-be-wed couples aged 18 to 25 years old before they can secure a marriage license.

The training initiative directly aims to strengthen the quality of pre-marriage counseling provided to these couples, ensuring consistency with the standards set forth in the Family Code of the Philippines.

Interested professionals seeking to become accredited PM counselors must have at least completed a four-year course  that includes counseling as part of the curriculum or practice. This typically covers fields such as social work, nursing, or any behavioral and social sciences. (PJE)