RDC  endorses  Social Work Week celebration 

Social workers in Western Visayas  have found much needed support in their move towards a historic celebration of the Ruby Anniversary of their profession comes June 19.

The Regional Development Council has endorsed the resolution requesting the President of the Republic to declare June 13-19 as Social Work Week in   the Philippines to commemorate the 40 th Year of RA 4374, otherwise known as the Social Work Law.

As contained in RDC VI Resolution No. 9, Series of 2005, the Regional Development Council of Western Visayas has   requested   President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo  for the declaration of Social Work Week on June 13-19 of every year to recognize the role of  social work in nation building.

Gov. Salvacion Z. Perez, RDC chairperson, was explicit in her support to the resolution during the First Quarter Meeting of RDC VI at Casa Pilar Beach Resort, Boracay Island , Malay, Aklan   on February18.  “It's high time for us to recognize the role of social workers in the development in our region,” Gov. Perez enthused,   assuring Rev. Edwin Lariza , social work proponent,   of  her participation and consequent support to the Ruby Anniversary celebration. Lariza was awarded   during the RDC meeting for giving honor to the RDC VI,  being one of the private sector representatives,  for making it to the Ten Outstanding Social Workers of the Philippines .

The call   for Social Work Week   stemmed from the series of consultations conducted  by the heads and faculty  of the schools of social work in Region VI under the National Association for Social Work Education, Inc. (NASWEI)- Western Visayas . Represented in this association   are the Central Philippine University, Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de  Jesus, Iloilo Doctors College , University of Negros Occidental- Recoletos , and Capiz Polytechnic State University- Pilar Campus. Soon, it  gained support from the professional organization of registered social workers and allied organizations like  the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc (PASWI), and Alliance of Social Workers, welfare and development advocates for Integrated services and Nationalism (ASIN), and CPU Social Work Alumni Association.

The resolution pointed out that with the passage of the   Republic Act 4373 on June 19, 1965 ,   the practice of social work and the operation of social welfare agencies were regulated. Consequently, the law,   which formally recognized social work as a profession in the Philippines , has   created a new interest in  social work and in the field of social welfare.

Such recognition   subsequently   resulted in the  improvement of social work  practice standards, development of more relevant educational curricula, and  effective delivery of social welfare programs and services. Moreover,   with the passage of the law, social workers have been doing significant role in nation building  through various fields of endeavors in the government and non-government organizations. The Department of Social Welfare and Development serves as   the showcase of   social work in the government. Other social workers excel in the non-government organizations, academe, court, clinical,   religious , industrial, and other sectoral endeavors. A growing number have been doing good in the international social work.

It has been noticed, however, that the significance of the date of the   passage of the  Social Work Law has not been officially observed  unlike other social legislations which were passed even later. This year's celebration will   become   a historical landmark  in Western Visayas as it will  be attended by local, national and international social workers, who will also hold their Regional Assembly, National Convention, and Grand Reunion since on the same date.

Western Visayas social workers have also written DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman , Sangguniang Panlalawigan/Panlungsod thru respective   governors and city mayors, and the  national board and officers of PASWI and NASWEI  for support to the resolution.

Should this move gain favor from the President of the Republic, Social workers in Western Visayas   will gain etch  their  mark in the annals of  the history of this noble profession. It will be recalled that among the 7 pioneers  that formed the first association of social workers in the Philippines, three came from Western Visayas , namely: Josefa Jara Martinez, (mother of former first lady Ming Ramos), Carmen Montinola -Luz (mother of Makati Business Club executive Bill Luz), and Felicidad A. De Silva from Capiz . Martinez will always be remembered as the first and foremost among Filipino social work pioneer. The social worker-senator who authored the RA 4373   Dr .  Maria Kalaw-Katigbak reportedly  traces her roots  from Molo, Iloilo .