The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Academy has intensified its training programs, expanded its facilities, and widened the access for the upskilling of social welfare professionals and partner institutions nationwide.

In a radio interview Saturday, DSWD Academy director Justin Cesar Batocabe said their functions have long existed within the department, but the current administration has significantly scaled up its mandate under Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

“Pinalaki po natin, gumawa po tayo ng mga pasilidad at ni-renovate din po natin ang DSWD Academy facility and sinigurado po natin mas maparami ang ating mapasa sa technical assistance and other trainings (We scaled up, built facilities and renovated the DSWD Academy to ensure that more social workers will pass the technical assistance and trainings),” Batocabe said.

The DSWD Academy operates in a department-managed learning facility in Taguig City, offering both basic and specialized courses designed for licensed social workers, local social welfare and development offices, municipal social welfare and development offices, community development workers, paraprofessionals, and social work auxiliaries.

The training programs can also serve as refresher modules for registered social workers because the curriculum includes Introduction to Social Welfare and Development, Pre-Marriage Counseling, Leadership Training for Social Workers, and House Parenting for staff in residential care facilities.

The DSWD Academy likewise addresses specialized competency needs, particularly in disaster response and child protection.

Training programs include camp coordination and camp management, training for social workers handling Children in Conflict with the Law, and modules for court-based social workers.

Training programs are in-house, as participants usually come from other regions. They are housed in the Academy’s hostel to ensure focused learning and peer support.

While the DSWD Academy currently targets local government units and government social welfare institutions, Batocabe said slots occasionally open for qualified individuals when targeted participants are unable to attend.

“These openings are publicly announced through the official DSWD Academy Facebook page and may be availed of through registration. To be qualified, applicants must have an educational or professional background aligned with social work or community development,” Batocabe said. (PNA)