VPSD Speech for the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc. (ALSWDOPI) 26th National Convention and General Assembly, SMX Convention Center, Davao City

Event Date: August 15, 2023, at 8:00 am

Assalamualaikum.

[STANDARD GREETINGS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GUESTS]

Madayaw ug maayong adlaw kaninyong tanan. Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

Thank you to the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc. for inviting me to your 26th National Convention and General Assembly.

To be a part of your gathering is truly an honor and an opportunity for me…

Honor — knowing your indispensable role in advancing our people's welfare, in fighting for the protection of their rights, and in championing life and a society where there is justice, hope, and dignity.

And an opportunity — as I wish to express my admiration for your extraordinary gift to change people’s lives and empower communities to rise from the rubbles of adversities with renewed enthusiasm, strength, and resilience.

Social workers. The foot soldiers for social change.

How you surrendered your lives to that special calling to serve other people, to help communities — without any conditions — is truly inspiring.

Karapat-dapat lang na tingnan at pag-aralan ang inyong buhay at propesyon…at pamarisan lalim ng pagmamahal ninyo sa inyong kapwa at sa inyong bayan.

Gusto ko pong ipaalam sa inyo na mataas ang respeto ko sa inyo at sa inyong ginagawa.

Sumasaludo po ako sa inyo — kagaya ng pagsaludo ko sa iba pang mga sektor na nagsasakripisyo at nagbubuwis ng kanilang buhay para mapagsilbihan ang kapwa Pilipino at matulungan ang mga komunidad na malampasan ang anumang krisis.

Ni hindi pa man humuhupa ang bagyo, may mga social workers na naka-deploy sa mga lugar na nasalanta nito.

Social workers din ang laging kasama ng mga search and rescue personnel pagkatapos ng lindol.

Sa panahon ng gyera, mga social workers din ang kadalasang nakikita sa mga evacuation centers na nagsasagawa ng trauma healing sa mga batang bakwit.

Ang takbuhan ng mga battered wives ay mga social workers.

Ang sumbungan ng mga batang biktima ng pang-aabusong sekswal at pisikal ay mga social workers.

I remember in 2016 when I was reelected as Mayor of Davao City — we were crushed by the tragic death of a boy who died after his stepfather repeatedly beat him.

Kean Gabriel was only 3 when he died because of the brutality of an adult who was supposed to provide him with love, care, and safety.

Nalaman ko na may iba pang minors na namatay dahil sa pagmamaltrato ng kanilang mga magulang o guardians sa mga komunidad.

I said — we need to stop these cases of child abuse that could lead to more deaths.

We decided to put up a hotline called The Kean Gabriel Hotline to encourage community members to report incidents of child abuse. And they can report anonymously.

We chose a number that could easily be remembered — 0908 818 4444. And we produced a jingle played repeatedly on almost all radio stations in Davao — if only to remind the public of our shared responsibility to ensure that no child will again die because of abuse.

The Kean Gabriel Hotline receives calls and messages 24/7.

And behind the hotline are social workers.

Over time, with the active involvement of the community in the Kean Gabriel advocacy, our social workers noticed a dramatic drop in reports.

The hotline remains active even today.

And I must say that without the help and dedication of the social workers and their hearts for abuse victims, we could have failed Kean Gabriel once again.

We first failed Kean Gabriel when we failed to stop the abuse that resulted in his death.

We did not want to fail in giving him justice.

And then fail again to save other children from tragically dying from abusive adults.

Let me also cite the help — and through the ongoing lobbying of social workers and child rights groups — in our decision to put up the Special Office for Children’s Concern under the Office of the City Mayor in 2019.

The Office is tasked to implement programs related to children alone.

At the Office of the Vice President today, social workers play crucial roles in implementing all social services projects.

They are the frontline providers of services to the public — present in the Central Office and all 10 Satellite Offices of the OVP in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

One of the special projects of OVP now being handled by skilled social workers is the Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day.

Gusto ko pong bigyang diin na ang liderato ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ay hindi po magkukulang sa pagsusumikap na mabigyan ng tulong ang ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan…at maiahon ang mga mahihirap na komunidad.

This gathering’s theme reminds me of the power of being united.

I am happy that we share the same vision of advancing social change despite conflicting principles and clashing politics.

During the election, our battle cry was unity. The significance of unity and being united for a common cause — this time social change — is something that we cannot overemphasize today.

Maging MATATAG tayo tungo sa isang Bansang Makabata at Batang Makabansa.

Lahat— para sa Diyos, bayan, at bawat pamilyang Pilipino.

Shukran.