As part of its intensified social marketing efforts, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) held a one-day exposition of its innovative social welfare and development models of interventions that are currently implemented across all regions recently at the Central Office in Batasan, Quezon City.

Dubbed as the “Social Technology Expo 2018”, the event showcased the new composition of the Social Technology Bureau (STB) of the DSWD, namely: the Pilot Implementation Division (PID); the Research and Design Division (RDD); and the Promotion and Institutionalization Division (PaID).

Representatives from partner LGUs also shared information and other updates regarding the pilot implementation of four social technology (ST) projects, which include the Buklod Paglaom para sa CICL (Children in Conflict with the Law); Team Balikatan Rescue in Emergencies (TeamBRE); Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood, and other Developmental Interventions (SHIELD) against Child Labor; and the Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Street Families and Indigenous Peoples Especially Sama-Bajaus.

The Buklod Paglaom para sa CICL provides a range of center and community-based interventions for 12-15 years old CICL who were alleged to have committed serious offenses or those who have committed crimes for more than second times.

Meanwhile, the TeamBRE organizes and enhances the disaster preparedness and response skills of fisher folks in order to engage them in the rescue and evacuation of families in coastal and disaster-prone communities.

SHIELD against Child Labor was also tackled which aims to withdraw children involved in child labor activities and provide them with holistic and immediate interventions at the community level.

The last presentation explained an overview of the Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Street Families, and Indigenous Peoples Especially Sama-Bajaus which provides a package of services, interventions, and opportunities to help improve the welfare of families and children at-risk on the streets.

Other activities featured in the event were the launching of the new branding and jingle of the STB, setting of commitment of partners, and ceremonial toast of support to STB programs.

The activity was led by DSWD Assistant Secretary for the Office of Secretary Group (OSG) Glenda D. Relova who also served as the coach monitor of the DSWD-Social Technology Bureau (STB).

“In the past, the concept of innovation in the public sector is far from being robust due to the competition in resources and less pressure to continue its survival. The lifeline of the government is mainly dependent to taxation, but the needs of the people are changing in response to international commitments, global thrusts, and the changing landscape of poverty, that it why at this juncture, it is probably worth mentioning that there is a bureau within the DSWD which we call the Social Technology Bureau or STB which is in-charge of conceptualizing and developing customer-driven needs and rights-based models of interventions to improve the social conditions and social functioning of the poor, disadvantaged, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors of society,” Asec. Relova said.

“Our organization has evolved from being a direct assistance deliverer to a technical assistance provider to local government units (LGUs), national government agencies, non-government organizations, people’s organizations, and members of our civil society. This is in order to assist our partners to effectively implement programs, projects and services that will alleviate poverty and empower disadvantaged communities for improved quality of life,” she said.

The Assistant Secretary also asked partners and guests to replicate the programs in their respective jurisdictions.

“We will be happy to see that these innovative solutions which were products of years of testing, assessment, and development are being replicated and institutionalized by our partners. Truly, we in the government are continuously innovating. We are relentless in our pursuit to find better solutions to address issues for the betterment of communities that we promise to love, care, and protect,” she ended. ###