The Social Welfare and Development Learning Network (SWDL-Net)

Aside from providing different types of programs and services for Filipinos, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is also tasked to organize a pool of capability building service providers on social welfare and development.

And so, through Administrative Order No. 20, the department established the Social Welfare and Development Learning Network, or SWDL-Net, for short. In this article, we will talk about this network — its goals, core group of specialists, and learning facilities that are located all over the country.

What is SWDL-Net?

As the name says, the Social Welfare and Development Learning Network (SWDL-Net) is a network covering agencies, schools, organizations, and individuals that provide and conduct training and capacity-building programs on social welfare and development — particularly programs on poverty alleviation and social protection.

SWDL-Net envisions a learning network that offers accessible, relevant, and quality social welfare and development capacity-building programs. The network’s mission is to enhance the capacity of groups, individuals, and organizations that are involved in poverty alleviation and social protection programs.

Goals of DSWD and SWDL-Net

Together, the goals of the DSWD and the SWDL-Net are the following:

• Provide a learning environment through capacity-building programs for stakeholders to increase their competence in social welfare and development;
• Strengthen the collaboration between and among social welfare and development practitioners who are engaged with learning and capacity-building; and
• Make use of intensified social welfare and development research in developing capacity-building programs, in response to the needs of social welfare and development stakeholders, as well as to contribute to the enhancement of the Social Work curriculum.

Core Group of Specialists (CGS)

The SWDL-Net is composed of a group of practitioners that would foster continuous development and sharing of knowledge and expertise. These practitioners specialize in: social welfare and development policy making, social technology development, standards development, compliance monitoring, program management, direct service delivery, technology transfer, resource generation, networking and partnerships, and financial management.

Notably, these practitioners contribute their knowledge and skills in the design, implementation, and monitoring of various social welfare programs. These include programs related to: child and youth welfare, family and community welfare, women welfare, older persons and persons with disability welfare, and disaster management.

DSWD Learning Facilities

The SWDL-Net is comprised of several DSWD Learning Facilities, which are situated in various establishments. Among these are the Social Welfare and Development Center for Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP) in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, and the Knowledge Exchange Center (KEC), which is located at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.

In addition, there are DSWD Regional Learning Resource Centers (RLRCs), which are located in most Field Offices across the Philippines. These centers house and circulate the DSWD’s print and non-print materials on social welfare and development, social protection, and general information. Interestingly, RLRCs are considered as satellite offices of the KEC.

All of these centers provide services like reference and information access. They also serve as venues for learning as well as knowledge sharing activities.

Directory of DSWD Learning Facilities

Below is a list of the contact information of DSWD Learning Facilities, which are part of the SWDL-Net. For each facility, we have included its address, contact person, position of contact person, telephone number, email address:

Social Welfare and Development Center for Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP)

Address: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
PONUSWA Compound, Don Chino Roces Extension (formerly Pasong Tamo Ext.), Brgy. Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City (near Gate 3 of Fort Bonifacio), Philippines
Contact Person: Gelves C. Almiñe
Position of Contact Person: Training Specialist I
Telephone: 632 8843 6370
Email: swadcap@dswd.gov.ph
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/DSWD-Social-Welfare-and-Development-Center-for-Asia-and-the-Pacific-100021152737656/

Knowledge Exchange Center (KEC)

Address: 4th Floor, DSWD Central Office, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City 1126, Philippines
Contact Person: Noeme T. Alfonso
Position of Contact Person: Librarian II
Telephone: 632 931 8101 loc. 419
Email: ntalfonso@dswd.gov.ph, kec@dswd.gov.ph
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dswd.kec/

RLRC DSWD Field Office CAR

Address: 40 North Drive, Baguio City 2600, Philippines
Contact Person: Janet A. Jose
Position of Contact Person: Librarian II
Telephone: VOIP 25036
Email: rlrd.focar@dswd.gov.ph
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSWDCARRLRC/?locale=vi_VN

RLRC DSWD Field Office CARAGA

Address: 8600 R. Palma St, Butuan City, 8600 Agusan Del Norte, Philippines
Contact Person: Anafe A. Lecciones
Position of Contact Person: Training Specialist III / CBS Head
Telephone: 342 5619 loc. 131
Email: cbs.focrg@dswd.gov.ph
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.dswdcaragalearningcommons.gov.ph/

RLRC DSWD Field Office I

Address: Quezon Avenue, Sevilla, City of San Fernando, La Union, Philippines
Contact Person: Bryan Christian J. Raceles, RL
Position of Contact Person: Librarian I
Telephone: 072 687 8000 loc. 11205 / 0908 705 0324
Email: kmunit.fo1@dswd.gov.ph

RLRC DSWD Field Office II

Address: 3 Dalan na Pagayaya, Regional Government Center, Carig, Tuguegarao City, Philippines 3500
Contact Person: Jesusa Joy A. Cabasag
Position of Contact Person: Training Specialist II
Telephone: 078 304 0586 / 078 304 1004
Email: jjacabasag@dswd.gov.ph

RLRC DSWD Field Office III

Address: Government Center, Maimpis San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
Contact Person: Pauline Grace M. Dela Peña
Position of Contact Person: Project Development Officer II / Knowledge Management Focal
Telephone: 045 861 2413 loc. 130 / 0956 417 9172
Email: cbu.fo3@dswd.gov.ph

RLRC DSWD Field Office IV-A

Address: Alabang-Zapote Road, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
Contact Person: Avylene V. Salvador
Position of Contact Person: Training Specialist II
Telephone: 0929 6457945
Email: avsalvador@dswd.gov.ph

RLRC DSWD Field Office NCR

Address: 389 San Rafael Street corner Legarda Street Sampaloc, Manila 1008, Philippines
Telephone: 632 5310 1433

RLRC DSWD Field Office VIII

Address: Magsaysay Boulevard, Downtown, Tacloban City, 6500 Leyte, Philippines
Contact Person: Rolando A. Verbo, Jr.
Position of Contact Person: Administrative Assistant II
Telephone: 0906 1181323
Email: raverbo@dswd.gov.ph

RLRC DSWD Field Office XI

Address: Ramon Magsaysay Avenue corner D. Suazo Street, Davao City 8000, Philippines
Contact Person: Michael H. Sebuco
Telephone: 082 2271964
Email: mhsebuco@dswd.gov.ph

Contact Information

Meanwhile, if you want more details about the SWDL-Net experts, you can contact the Social Welfare Institutional Development Bureau via email at swidb@dswd.gov.ph.

Final Thoughts

The great thing about the SWDL-Net is that it keeps a record of the best practices related to social welfare and development. This way, the DSWD, together with other agencies, both public and private — can learn and adapt various programs and services, as the need arises.

Speaking of social technologies, another agency that you should learn about is the Social Technology Bureau (STB). Check out this article to learn more about this office and its role in the DSWD.