OFFICE OF THE BUREAU DIRECTOR (OBD)

The OBD is responsible to oversees, directs, and coordinates the administrative and technical activities of the field office/bureau/service; advises DSWD management on the effective, efficient and economical implementation of resources; undertake projects that may be assigned by Principals/Management.

Functions: 

  • Manages the day-to-day operations of bureau/service/region to ensure timeliness of outputs, effectiveness of service delivery.
  • Facilitates administrative works, legal assistance and ensure that all tasks related to Standards Development, Compliance & Monitoring and Enforcement & Advocacy are complied/completed.
  • Creates, handles and maintains the system used by the Standards Bureau including all concerns raised relative to the technology and equipment used by the bureau. Provide technical assistance to Standards Bureau’s Staffs and counterparts relative systems, equipment.
  • Manage information in compliance to the Data Privacy Act; serves as Focal for the Freedom of Information (FOI); maintain databank of registered and licensed SWDAs; accredited service providers, programs and services of SWDAs; and CSOs, NFRC issued permits to individuals/ organizations and other relevant information.
  • Prepares/updates Work and Financial Plan (WFP), Monthly Disbursement Program (MDP) and facilitates requests for sub-allotment, re-allocation and withdrawal from Field Offices. Performs functions pertaining to budgetary matters and does other related tasks.
  • Facilitates hiring process for all permanent positions under Standards Bureau and hiring process for MOA positions under OBD.
  • Facilitates the development and improvement of human resource management and development strategies, systems, and processes of the Bureau
  • Manage information and maintain data bank on registered, licensed, accredited service providers, agencies and organizations and on other relevant information as basis for program, standards, systems and social technology development, policy formulation and research
  • Performs office and/or administrative functions in the Standards Development Division (SDD), Standards Compliance Monitoring Division (SCMD), Standards Enforcement and Advocacy Division (SEAD) such as:
    • Record incoming and outgoing documents
    • Route incoming and outgoing documents
    • Records Management
    • Procurement Management
    • Property and Supply Management
    • Air Transport Reservation

STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT DIVISION (SDD)

SDD is primarily responsible for developing new and/or continuously enhancing existing regulatory standards, guidelines, manuals, tools, and other policy documents, that adhere to promoting the quality of life of the regulated entities’ beneficiaries, but at the same time responsive to the needs of the end-users (regulators and regulated entities alike), and resilient and appropriate for meeting future challenges. 

Its policy development function primarily relies on Executive Order No. 221 Series of 2003, as well as on other laws and Executive issuances authorizing the Department to exercise its regulatory function. Hence, SDD’s scope is along the standards, guidelines, manuals, tools, and other policy documents necessary in dispensing the regulatory function of the Department.

Functions: 

  • Conducts environmental scanning on emerging social welfare standards, issues and trends in aid of standards development and legislations;
  • Conducts dialogue, policy fora and consultation sessions on standards review and development involving SWDAs, other stakeholders and the public;
  • Develops/revises regulatory standards, guidelines, manuals, tools and other policy documents;
  • Develops and pilot tests strategies relative to standards development and quality service delivery of social welfare and development programs and services;
  • Develops systems for incentives for compliant SWDAs;
  • Conducts regulatory impact assessment as part of the standards and guidelines development process;
  • Conduct advocacy activities on regulatory standards, guidelines, manuals, tools and other policy documents, such as orientation and capacity-building of regulators and/or regulated-entities, as well as development of IEC materials via various platforms;
  • Promotes and supports legislative agenda, policies, tools and standards relative to the regulation of SWDAs and SWD service providers;
  • Monitors the implementation of the guidelines after its enforcement; and
  • Manages information and maintains a database relative to standards development, capacity building and advocacy including documentation of good practices of regulators and/or regulated entities.

STANDARDS COMPLIANCE MONITORING DIVISION (SCMD)

The Standards Compliance Monitoring Division (SCMD) shall process and assess the applications for registration, licensing and accreditation of SWDAs and service providers and monitor their compliance to the implementation of the social welfare and development programs and services within the set standards.  

Functions: 

  • Register agencies engaged in SWD programs and services. 
  • License private SWDAs.
  • Accredit SWD programs and services of public SWDAs and private Social Work Agencies (SWAs) and services providers. 
  • Accredit Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that would implement SWD programs and projects using public funds. 
  • Facilitate the endorsement of duty-exempt importation of foreign donations of qualified SWDAs. 
  • Assess and endorse National Fund-Raising Campaigns (NFRC) applications both for regular and during state of calamity. 
  • Provide technical assistance to the Field Offices, SWDAs and other stakeholders on the various regulatory services of the Department. 
  • Monitor sustained compliance of SWDAs on set standards and requirements on registration, licensing, accreditation of programs and services, CSOs and service providers, and organizations issued with national fund drive authorities and endorsement for duty-exempt importation of foreign donations.
  • Ensure functionality and sustainability of ABSNET at the regional and national level. 
  • Act on referrals from various individuals, agencies relative to registration, licensing and accreditation and other related standards concerns. 
  • Recommend measures in addressing gaps in the implementation of policies concerning registration, licensing and accreditation of SWDAs and other regulatory guidelines. 
  • Recommend appropriate interventions for non –compliant SWDAs.

SCMD Sections: 

  • Registration and Licensing Section 
  • Accreditation – Community based and Residential Facility Section
  • Accreditation – CRCF and Database Section
  • Accreditation – Non-Residential Section
  • Accreditation – DEI/NFRC / CSO Section

The Division is responsible for ensuring compliance to SWD standards through registration, licensing and accreditation of service providers and SWD agencies implementing SWD programs and services and accessing benefits accruing to licensed and accredited service providers and SWD agencies. 

Functions:

  • Conduct assessment and issue corresponding certificates for the registration and licensing of SWD agencies operating in more than one region;
  • Conduct accreditation assessment and accredit service providers and SWD agencies engaged in the implementation of SWD programs and services; 
  • Assess the issuance of Authority to conduct NFRC 
  • Monitor compliance with SWD standards, rules and regulations on licensing, accreditation, national fund drives and other forms of solicitation by the service providers and SWD agencies;
  • Provide technical assistance to intermediaries to ensure compliance with standards and sustainability of quality service delivery;
  • Act on referrals from various agencies, organizations relative to registration, licensing and accreditation and other related concerns; 
  • Register agencies engaged in SWD programs and services.
  • License private SWDAs.
  • Accredit SWD programs and services of public SWDAs and private Social Work Agencies (SWAs) and services providers.
  • Accredit Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that would implement SWD programs and projects using public funds.
  • Facilitate the endorsement of duty-exempt importation of foreign donations of qualified SWDAs.
  • Monitor the sustained compliance of SWDAs on issued RLA certificates  and service providers to set standards & requirements.
  • Assess and endorse National Fundraising Campaigns (NFRC) applications both for regular and during state of calamity.
  • Monitor compliance on the issued NFRC authority
  • Provide technical assistance to the Field Offices, SWDAs and other stakeholders on the various regulatory services of the Department.

Standards Enforcement and Advocacy Division (SEAD)

Standards Enforcement and Advocacy Division (SEAD) is responsible for enforcing the regulatory policies and guidelines to those erring Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs), and those with complaints that are brought to the attention of the Department.  It is also responsible for advocating the roles and regulatory functions of the Department to the general public and other stakeholders nationwide.   

Functions:

  • Handles/responds to complaints against erring SWDAs, accredited service providers and individuals/organizations on DSWD’s regulatory guidelines and related laws;
  • Provides technical assistance (TA) to Field Offices (FOs) in handling complaints against erring SWDAs as well as those unregistered and unlicensed organizations;
  • Monitors the operations of  those organizations without registration and license to operate as well as those unauthorized public solicitations/fund drives in  collaboration with FOs;
  • Serves as Secretariat of the Department-Central Office Review Committee (CORC) in handling of appealed cases on violations allegedly committed by the SWDAs;
  • Recommends needed legal action against organizations violating existing related laws;
  • Sustains partnership with appropriate government organizations and other stakeholders in enforcing the regulatory services;
  • Conceptualizes and develops standardized information education campaign (IEC) materials along regulatory services;
  • Leads in advocating and enforcing the regulatory services;
  • Recommends measure in addressing gaps in the implementation of policies concerning registration, licensing and accreditation of SWDAs and other regulatory guidelines as basis for possible policy development/revision or in aid of legislations; and
  • Maintains a database of SWDAs and individuals/organizations with complaints and manages information on enforcement and advocacy.