The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced Saturday that it has intensified its Academy training programs, expanded its facilities, and widened access to upskilling opportunities for social welfare professionals and partner institutions nationwide in a bid to ensure excellence.

Atty. Justin Cesar Batocabe, director of the DSWD Academy, said the academy's functions have long existed within the Department, but the current administration has significantly scaled up its mandate.

“Dati pa po ito, meron na pong functions ang DSWD para magbigay ng technical assistance and capacity building pero mas lalong pinaigting sa termino ni 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,” Director 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 (LSWDO), municipal social welfare and development offices (MSWDO), community development workers, paraprofessionals, and social work auxiliaries.

These programs can also serve as refresher modules for registered social workers, covering topics such as 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 also addresses specialized competency needs, particularly in disaster response and child protection. Training programs include camp coordination and camp management, modules for social workers handling Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), and courses for court-based social workers.

“Isa po sa mga tinuturo ko ‘yung children in conflict with the law so may mga maintaining obtainers tayo for social workers handling CICL and then po court workers handling… minsan yung naa-assign po doon na social workers minsan ay wala pong background sa law– so bibigyan po natin sila ng crash course,” the DSWD Academy director pointed out.

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

“Mas mabuti po iyon para learning is concentrated. Kaya nga gusto (din) po namin silang ipagsama sama kasi meron isang bagay na tinatawag natin na horizontal learning, learning from each other — their peers. Since nagkakaroon po sila ng shared experiences, sa aming findings po tumataas ang kanilang kaalaman,” Director Batocabe said.

While the DSWD Academy currently targets local government units (LGUs) and government social welfare institutions, slots occasionally open for qualified individuals when targeted participants are unable to attend. Openings are announced through the official DSWD Academy Facebook page and may be availed through registration. Applicants must have an educational or professional background aligned with social work or community development.