Four new Social Welfare Attachés (SWAtts) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), namely (from left to right): Ms. Rosemarie F. Alvez, Ms. Narrabelle Z. Bue, Ms. Josephine B. Macalagay, and Ms. Remilene C. Marcelino are now ready to assist overseas Filipinos in their respective Foreign Service Posts.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the International Social Services Office (ISSO), has deployed four new Social Welfare Attachés (SWAtts). This is in pursuance to the mandate of the Department in protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of overseas Filipinos (OFs) and their families, especially those in distress. The said SWAtts have recently taken their oath before Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista.

The four new SWAtts are: Ms. Rosemarie F. Alvez, Ms. Narrabelle Z. Bue, Ms. Josephine B. Macalagay, and Ms. Remilene C. Marcelino. All of them are now deployed in their respective Foreign Service Posts (FSPs).

SWAtt Alvez replaced Teresita L. Valentino, SWAtt in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), while SWAtt Bue succeeded Annabelle R. Oidem, SWAtt in Jeddah, KSA. SWatts Valentino and Oidem ended their tour of duty on April 30, 2022.

Meanwhile, SWAtts Macalagay and Marcelino were deployed to the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, China, respectively.

Prior to their deployment, the SWAtts underwent intensive training programs and preparations such as Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS) with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Language Course to ensure their full potential.

Likewise, ISSO organized an “Internal” PDOS equipping the SWAtts the necessary technical knowledge in providing efficient and timely social welfare services to distressed OFs for the next three years. They will serve as the Department’s representatives in providing social welfare and development programs and services towards the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of the OFs and their families, especially those in distress.

The DSWD continues to capacitate the SWAtts to their optimum potentials, so as to aid them in the discharge of their functions in the goal of helping and improving the lives of more individuals, consistent with its mandate, which is to provide “Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo”. ###