Lingayen- - - Civil Service Chairperson Alicia R. Bala underscored the importance of the role of social workers in helping people become more responsive and adaptive towards building self-resilient communities amid adversity.
During the opening program of the three-day Luzon Cluster regional convention of the Philippine Association of Social Workers Incorporated (PASWI) held on November 11 at the Sison Auditorium here, the CSC commissioner said that communities depend much on social workers especially during calamities.
Thus, she stressed that social workers need to become sensitive of the needs of the people not just physically but mentally and emotionally, as well.
An erstwhile undersecretary of the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and secretary general for the ASEAN, Bala said it is of utmost importance that social workers can provide the needed assistance of the people who are about to lose hope in times of disaster.
“People have special needs that may not be visible in the eyes,” she disclosed as she challenged the social workers to become sensitive to further identify the unexpressed needs of the people and be able to address them properly.
Meanwhile, Liga ng mga Barangay president Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III, who spoke on behalf of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. commended the social workers for performing gargantuan tasks as ‘frontline service personnel’ as he further urged them to continue helping the government achieve its goal to continuously serve all the people in the grassroots.
Board Member Espino said that the government cannot do it alone if not for the support of the social workers who work unselfishly beyond the call of duty.
On the other hand, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr. welcomed the 282 participants of the three-day convention as he manifests full support and expressed gratitude to association for its vital role in nation building.
The three-day convention which focuses on the theme, “Promoting the Dignity and Worth of Persons: Readiness, Opportunities and Challenges of Social Workers in Facing Globalization,” aims to enhance competencies of its members through continuing professional growth and development and to strengthen strategic linkages and partnerships with other organizations.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Emilio Samson also joined Vice Governor Calimlim and BM Espino in welcoming the participants who came from Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4 with some delegates from the NCR.
PASWI is the only organization of social workers accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). It has 80 local chapters which are clustered per region. (Ruby R. Bernardino)
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