Davao City- The Area Based Standards Network (ABSNet) of Region XI recently celebrated 16^th year of quality social services to the poor and vulnerable sector with the theme “Soar High Towards Excellent Social Services”.

Inspired by the positive response of social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs) in the region, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as lead agency in social protection, organized ABSNet in 2000 to institutionalize partnership relative to registration, licensing and accreditation of SWDAs.

ABSNet is composed of 126 DSWD-licensed and accredited social development organizations from all over the region.

A license is a certificate issued by DSWD to an agency which has complied with the statutory requirements to operate.  RA 4373 requires SWDAs “utilizing social work methods and interventions to secure a license from DSWD before they can operate as a social work/social welfare and development agency.”

The DSWD, through its regulatory function provides the standards and guidelines that govern the service delivery by SWDAs to ensure that the goal of uplifting the well-being of the disadvantaged is achieved.

“Today we give salute to your organization’s continued success. Let us continue to work together as you have been instrumental in assisting us in the registration and licensing of SWDAs,” DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Administration Ma. Vilia L. Vigil stressed.

“We started our celebration with a motorcade from Rizal Park to Abreeza Mall, followed by a program showcasing the talents of our children beneficiaries from different clusters,” ABSNet Federation President and Executive Director of Children’s Joy Foundation Rosemarie Dimagnaong said.

Dimagnaong said ABSNet will continue the advocacy and promotion of registration, licensing and accreditation of SWDAs; consultation dialogues with SWDAs that are not yet registered; provision of technical assistance to SWDAs applying for license; and conduct of different trainings and seminars.

ABSNET in Davao Region remains solid and strong in terms of partnership and networking as it performs its function in strengthening the DSWD regulatory services.

“Your effort has been a contributing factor that we were able to accomplish more than our targets and deliverables in social protection programs and initiatives. Let us continue to keep up the good work in the coming years and beyond,” Vigil urged. (DSWD)