The DSWD Field Office IV-A acknowledged partners and staff in the delivery of social services to clients during the celebration of the agency’s 63^rd Anniversary last February 12 in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

With the theme “Kaagapay sa Pagbangon at Bagong Simula,” Regional Director Leticia T. Diokno said the occasion not only celebrated the success in the implementation of the different social welfare and development programs and services in the region but also served as venue to recognize the valuable help and support of the DSWD partners and the FO staff in all the endeavors for the benefit of the disadvantaged.

“The Department’s achievements would never be realized without the help of all our partners from the LGUs, the civil society organizations and the national government agencies and without the hard work of all our employees,” shared Dir. Diokno.

Laguna 3^rd District Representative Marisol “Sol” Aragones, the guest of honor for the occasion, shared that the 63 years of the Department is a proof of how long the DSWD has served, cared and helped in changing the lives of the people, especially the poor.

“Mahaba pa ang inyong maabot at marami pang pamilyang Pilipino ang sama-sama nating maiaahon mula sa kahirapan. Sana, ang statiska ng mahihirap mula sa DSWD ay hindi manatiling numero lamang. Sana gawin natin itong solusyon para ang mga mahihirap nating mga kababayan ay matulungan nating maiangat ang buhay. Sa pagkakataon pa lang na ito natin masasabi na ang DSWD, local government officials at mga lingkod-bayan ay tunay na kaagapay sa pagbangon at panibagong simula lalo na ng mga kababayan nating mahihirap,” shared Rep. Aragones.

During the celebration, notable partners were given Salamat Po Awards as recognition of their support to the different programs and services of the DSWD. This includes MACTELECOM Corp. for their monthly provision of medicines to the Haven for the Elderly, Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation for their provision of tutorial sessions and assistance to the residents of Bahay Tuluyan ng mga Bata, and Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc. for their donations in the disaster relief operations.

Other Salamat Po awardees were International Organization for Migration, Global Food Solutions, Inc., E-Zobel Foundation, Judge Lorifel Pahimna, Ms. Lourdes Moral, Cavite State University, Office of Civil Defense IV-A, Muntinlupa Engineering Office, Makati Social Welfare and Development Office, 74IB 2^nd Infantry Division – Philippine Army, Rizal ABSNET Cluster and the local government units of San Jose, Batangas City (Batangas Province) and Pakil (Laguna Province).

Also given recognition were employees who rendered their service to the Department for the past 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years (Loyalty Awardees); those who recently retired from service (Service Awardees), and; those who have shown service excellence in 2013 (Service Excellence Awardees).

The 63^rd Anniversary celebration also introduced the Listahanan, the new brand of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), to the stakeholders where House Rep. Aragones and the Batangas Provincial Government signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the sharing and use of the Listahanan database for their programs and services for the poor.***