Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian is planning to revitalize the Social Welfare Development Center for Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP) as an academy that will offer short-term courses and certificate programs to further equip and train the social service workforce.

According to a press statement released by the DSWD Friday, Gatchalian disclosed this plan during his meeting with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu and her delegation on March 15 at the DSWD central office in Quezon City.

Among the social service workforce to be developed by the center includes social workers, non-governmental organizations, local government personnel and other service providers involved in the implementation of social protection packages to the vulnerable and disadvantaged sector.

Ambassador Yu expressed the Australian government’s full support to provide technical assistance in crafting training packets or pathways for continuing professional development programs as well as conducting training of trainers for the academy.

During the meeting, Gatchalian also mentioned that one of his priorities is to strengthen the disaster response system of the DSWD.

To this, the Australian Embassy representatives shared the Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Program, a disaster preparedness program supported and funded by the Australian government, that is being implemented with 11 local government units in the country.

The embassy delegation committed to share with the DSWD their disaster response framework and best practices.

The DSWD continues to build and expand its partnerships with international organizations to better improve the quality of services for the benefit of Filipinos. (PNA)