PCSO holds first Social Workers Conference to elevate charity services
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Photo courtesy of Edwin B. Lovino
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The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) successfully held its first-ever Social Workers Conference on 19 to 20 June 2025, in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
This landmark event brought together PCSO social workers, branch managers, and key officials from across the country to strengthen their collective commitment to providing responsive and excellent public service.
With the theme “PCSO: Unwavering Charity Towards Responsive and Excellent Service,” the two-day gathering served as a vital platform for dialogue, learning, and collaboration among the agency's front-line workforce.
The conference opened with welcome remarks from PCSO Assistant General Manager for the Charity Sector, Arnel Casas, who emphasized the indispensable role of social workers in delivering the agency’s various charity programs.
PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles delivered the keynote address, where he highlighted the agency’s commitment to continuously professionalize and empower its front-line personnel.
GM Robles also acknowledged the social workers’ dedication and hard work in serving Filipinos in need, often under challenging circumstances.
The event was also attended by members of the PCSO Board of Directors, Janet Mercado, Jennifer Guevara, and Imelda Papin, as well as PCSO Chief of Staff Jeremy Regino.
Throughout the conference, participants engaged in discussions that revisited the history of social work practice within PCSO and explored ways to enhance the delivery of the agency's charity services.
Among the topics tackled were updates on key programs such as the Medical Equipment Donation Program, Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program, Institutional Partnership Program, Medical Access Program, Medical and Dental Mission Program, and the Corporate Social Responsibility Program. The discussions provided an opportunity for social workers to share insights, identify challenges, and propose strategies to improve the effectiveness of these programs.
A significant part of the conference was dedicated to the presentation of upcoming initiatives aimed at modernizing PCSO’s charity services. Charity Assistance Department Manager Orly Malaca shared updates on the System Integration of Charity Assistance Programs, or SICAP.
The project was developed as a strategic response to the increasing demand for fast, transparent, and reliable public service. Through SICAP, PCSO aims to streamline processes, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure timely and accountable assistance for its beneficiaries.
The conference also included an orientation on Republic Act No. 9433 or the Magna Carta for Public Social Workers, discussed by Jerusa Arnante-Homo, member of the Professional Regulation Commission’s Regulatory Board for Social Workers. The session reinforced the rights, responsibilities, and standards expected of social workers in their vital role as front-line service providers with attendees sharing their experiences and perspectives as they worked together to address emerging issues in program implementation and service delivery.
The conference concluded with a renewed sense of unity, purpose, and commitment among PCSO’s social workers and charity service personnel, which further solidifies their role as a professional, empowered, and compassionate workforce dedicated to delivering unwavering charity and excellent service to the Filipino people.
