Declaration of Policy
- The State commits to the care, protection, and rehabilitation of disadvantaged segments of the population.
- Focus on individuals, families, and communities that require social welfare assistance and intervention.
Mandate of the Ministry
- Provide a balanced approach addressing welfare needs before crises develop.
- Objectives include:
- Care and rehabilitation of physically and mentally handicapped and socially disabled individuals.
- Deliver integrated welfare packages tailored to constituents’ needs.
- Prevent deterioration of disadvantaged populations at the community level.
- Advocate for policies addressing social welfare concerns.
Powers and Functions of the Ministry
- Formulate and implement social welfare and development plans and programs.
- Adopt policies for effective public and private social welfare services.
- Promote and coordinate non-governmental social welfare facilities.
- Establish and maintain institutional welfare facilities.
- Strengthen grassroots people’s organizations.
- Network for proper identification and delivery of interventions.
- Accredit social welfare institutions, provide consultancy, and conduct research.
- Maintain bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation.
- Develop training standards and provide advisory services.
- Disseminate information on social welfare and development.
- Deputize law enforcement agencies to protect exploited and disadvantaged groups.
- Regulate fund drives and oversee charity operations.
- Set standards and supervise social workers across government sectors.
- Deputize local governments for disaster relief coordination.
- Coordinate programs for disabled, aging, and other disadvantaged groups.
Minister of Social Welfare and Development
- The Minister holds authority over the Ministry's mandate and functions.
- The Minister is appointed by the President and supervises and controls the Ministry.
Organizational Structure
- Ministry consists of the Ministry Proper (Office of the Minister, Deputy and Assistant Ministers, and Services).
- Includes Bureaus, Regional, Provincial/City, and Municipal/District Offices.
Office of the Minister
- Comprises the Minister, immediate staff, and the Public Affairs and Liaison Service.
Deputy Ministers
- Two Deputy Ministers assist the Minister; at least one from the career executive service.
- One supervises internal operations; the other manages liaison with attached agencies.
Assistant Ministers
- Three career Assistant Ministers appointed by the President.
- Responsibilities include supervising personnel development and administrative services, bureaus related to welfare sectors, and planning, monitoring, and legal services.
Ministry Services
- Personnel Development: manpower, career planning, welfare.
- Financial Service: budgeting and financial management.
- Administrative Service: records, supplies, security.
- Planning and Monitoring: policy formulation, planning, evaluation.
- Legal Service: legislative and legal matters.
- Public Affairs and Liaison: public information and volunteer coordination.
Staff Bureaus
- Technical supervision of Regional Offices.
- Develop policies and standards within their specialization.
- Conduct audits, evaluations, licensure assessments.
- Provide advisory support and training content.
- Develop indigenous literature and networking.
- Conduct studies and policy recommendations.
Areas of Specialization
- Each bureau handles pilot projects, program audits, advisory roles, licensing, and coordination of welfare programs.
Regional Office
- One Regional Office per administrative region.
- Provides regional social welfare services.
- Established specialized facilities like rehabilitation centers, day care centers.
- Implements policies and coordinates with local government units.
Welfare Facilities
- Authorized to establish specialized centers such as for handicapped rehabilitation, street children, youth offenders, homes for aged and unwed mothers, drug abuse centers, and other necessary facilities.
Regional Director
- Heads the Regional Office.
- Exercises functional and administrative supervision over provincial operations.
- Assisted by two Assistant Regional Directors for programs and administration.
Provincial/City Office
- Has jurisdiction over municipal/district offices.
- Formulates and coordinates local social welfare programs.
- Provides specialized services and collects feedback for the Regional Office.
- Maintains vocational rehabilitation programs for the handicapped.
Provincial/City Social Welfare Officer
- Leads Provincial/City Office.
- Accountable for program implementation and supervision of field operations.
Municipal/District Office
- Services municipalities or city districts.
- Led by Supervising Social Welfare Officer.
- Responsible for field program implementation under the Provincial/City Office.
Social Welfare Services by Others
- Ministry services do not prejudice local government or private social welfare efforts.
- Ministry units promote and assist external welfare efforts, including financial assistance.
Attached Agencies
- Population Commission: continuing population planning and coordination.
- National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons: advisory on disabled welfare.
- Governing boards of attached agencies to be reorganized within 120 days.
Abolitions and Transfers
- Abolishes National Executive Committee for Aging; functions transferred to Ministry.
- Replaces National Commission Concerning Disabled Persons with National Council for Disabled Persons.
- Transfers Home Economic Division from Ministry of Agriculture to Bureau of Women’s Welfare.
- Transfers include appropriation, personnel, assets.
- Personnel undergo hold-over status or separation with benefits.
New Structure and Staffing
- Officers and employees serve hold-over pending new structure approval.
- Minister approved position structure within 120 days; incumbents not included are separated with benefits.
- Separation benefits include retirement or severance pay up to 12 months’ salary.
- Restricts issuance of injunctions against separations under this Order.
Periodic Performance Evaluation
- Ministry required to develop a system for regular objective performance evaluations.
- Annual reports of performance to be submitted to the President.
Prohibition Against Unauthorized Changes
- No changes to the reorganization allowed without President’s prior approval.
Implementing Authority
- Minister authorized to issue necessary rules and regulations for implementation.
Notice or Consent Requirement
- If reorganization adversely affects third-party rights, required notice or consent must be obtained prior to implementation.
Funding
- Ministry shall use existing funds to implement this Executive Order’s provisions.
Change of Nomenclature
- If a new Constitution adopts presidential government, Ministry to be renamed Department of Social Welfare and Development.
- Titles of Minister, Deputy Minister, and Assistant Minister change accordingly.
Separability Clause
- Unconstitutional parts do not invalidate the entire Order if remaining parts can be independently enforced.
Repealing Clause
- Laws, rules, and issuances inconsistent with this Order are repealed or modified accordingly.
Effectivity
- The Executive Order takes immediate effect upon approval.