WV social workers gird for 5th Social Work Week celebration
Preparations are underway for the 5th Social Work Week Celebration in Western Visayas on June 13-19, 2009. The celebration has become national in scope with the support of the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (Paswi) to commemorate the anniversary of Republic Act 4373 otherwise known as the Social Work Law passed on June 19, 1965.
It will be recalled that in 2005, social workers in Western Visayas, led by Rev. Edwin I. Lariza, initiated the move for the declaration of June 13-19 as Social Work Week in the Philippines to give recognition to the role of social workers in nation building. The resolution was endorsed by the Regional Development Council and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Almost all of the provinces and major cities in Region VI through respective Sangguniang Panlalawigan/Panglunsod had declared June 13-19 as Social Work Week in support of such initiative. Eventually, the national association of social workers has endorsed the annual celebration.
This year’s theme as set by PASWI National is "Strengthening Solidarity and Excellence in Social Work." PASWI provincial chapters in Western Visayas have planned respective activities for week-long celebration. In Iloilo, the celebration will kick off with a motorcade around the city on June 15, 2:00 pm from the New Provincial as Work, Cenral Philippine University will sponsor a Forum on Trends in Social Work at the Knowledge Development Center, Henry Luce III Libraries. As a culminating activity, a regional gathering of social workers in Western Visayas will be held on June 24-25, 2009.
Spearheading the celebration is PASWI-Iloilo headed by Dr. Neneth Q. Pador. The other members of the Working Committee are Prof. Sarah M. Barayuga, Department of Social Work, CPU; Mr. Fred Villanueva, City Social Welfare Development Office; Mrs. Nina Joy A.Tanada, Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Phils. Inc. (ALSWDOPI), Mrs. Lulu V. Magbanua, Association of Medical Social Workers of the Phil., Inc. (AMSWAPI); and Rev. Edwin I. Lariza, Alliance of Social Workers, welfare and development advocates for Integrated services and Nationalism (ASIN).