Davao City –Former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Davao Region Director Mercedita Patillas Jabagat is back to her old post following the transfer of Director Priscilla N. Razon to the Social Welfare Attache Office at DSWD National.

As the 7^th Regional Director of DSWD Davao Region, Director Jabagat served from July 2003 until December 2006.  She was born and raised in Isabela, Basilan and her first engagement as professional social worker was with DSWD Region 9.

Director Jabagat was Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer in Surigao Del Sur-B when Surigao Del Sur was still part of Region XI.

Following the implementation of the Local Government Code in 1992, she was transferred at the DSWD Regional Office. One of her assignments was center coordinator of the Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents and Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth.

She was promoted as Assistant Regional Director and was also tasked to head the Regional Livelihood Unit. In 2002, she was named Officer Incharge and eventually appointed Regional Director of Region XI in 2003.

From her stint in Region XI, Director Jabagat moved on to head DSWD Caraga Region for six years until 2012 when she was assigned as Regional Director in DSWD Region 7 upto December 2015.

With her new post in 2016, Director Jabagat shall have served as the 7^th and the 10^th director of DSWD Davao Region.

The impressive line of DSWD past directors in Davao region would include Ester A. Versoza, former DSWD Secretary Lina B. Laigo, Susana M. Tinio, former DSWD Assistant Secretary Rhoda F. Yap, former DSWD Assistant Secretary Ruel G. Lucentales, Kunesa S. Sekak, Agrinelda N. Miclat and recently, Priscilla N. Razon.

Director Jabagat shall manage DSWD regional programs and operations with Assistant Director for Administration Ma. Vilia L. Vigil and OIC Assistant Regional Director for Operations Rebecca A. Santamaria. (DSWD)