The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office XI (DSWD XI), through its Policy Development and Planning Section, successfully convened for a Research Forum for Calendar Year 2025 at Grand Men Seng Hotel, Davao City on July 1, 2025. 

The forum brought together researchers, practitioners, and research focals to learn ways to strengthen the implementation of DSWD programs across the region through research studies.

Recognizing this, the DSWD recognizes the indispensable role of evidence-based data and information in supporting sound decisions for policy, strategy, and program development and adjustments. This year’s forum underscored this commitment by featuring two pivotal discussion papers as baselines for future research: “Community Organizing In The Digital Age: Competencies Among Social Workers In Davao Region” by Kristi Lou S. Taming, RSW, which explored the evolving landscape of community organizing amid digital advancements and its implications for social work practice in the region; and “A Behavior Management Plan For Children With Acting Out Behaviors In A Government Residential Care Facility” by Kyra Geloisa Ja Madrazo, which offered vital recommendations to enhance the care and rehabilitation of children in residential settings.

Moreover, the forum also included an open discussion where participants provided valuable reactions and insights, fostering a collaborative environment for knowledge exchange. The Research and Evaluation Agenda 2023-2028 was also presented, which outlined the strategic direction for DSWD’s research and evaluation efforts in the coming years. This agenda, guided by the DSWD R&E Policy and aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, ensures that future research initiatives are responsive to emerging social welfare challenges and contribute directly to DSWD’s mandate.

The DSWD XI Research Forum CY 2025 reaffirms the Department’s dedication to evidence-based practice, ensuring that its programs are not only well-intentioned but also effective, efficient, and responsive to the evolving needs of Filipino communities.