New Davao social welfare office ready to provide better service to Dabawenyos

Davao City’s Social Welfare and Development Office is finally moving to its newly-inaugurated five-storey building.

The P40-million building was made possible through the initiative of former Davao City second district representative Mylene Garcia, Cong. Loren Legarda, and Sec. Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Maria Luisa Bermudo, the head of CSWDO, said the new building was designed to provide better services to Dabawenyos, especially to persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

The CSWDO has been holding office at the old City Library building since 1992. The new building is located at the back of the City Hall Annex.

“We are truly happy and grateful to everyone who made it possible for the CSWDO to have our new building. This is a dream come true for the staff and employees. Not only because we have a new office, but somehow to help improve our delivery of services of social welfare,” Bermudo said.

The five-storey building was constructed by the DPWH.

It also houses the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), Ugnayan or Crisis Intervention Section, Council for the Welfare of Children, and a counseling room. The building also has a dormitory to be used by the employees during disaster response operations.

In her message, Mayor Sara said that the construction of CSWDO and the City Engineer’s Office’s (CEO) offices was a long-term plan to provide conducive working spaces for employees. It is also part of Rizal Park’s expansion.

“We saw the need to provide CSSDO and CEO with their buildings and offices that are conducive for working. The plan is, when the CSSDO and CEO move out, their spaces will be cleared. Then, there will be a bigger space behind Rizal Park. The plan is also to expand Rizal Park into a bigger space,” Mayor said.

“Ang pinaka unang gi-duolan namo si then Congresswoman Mylene Garcia, and then she coordinated with then Sen. Loren Legarda. Fortunately, their team worked. Nakahatag sila og budget para ani nga building (We initially approached former congresswoman Mylene Garcia first, and then she coordinated with then Sen. Loren Legarda. Fortunately, their team worked. They provided a budget for this building),” she added.

Although Legarda, who is now Antique’s representative, couldn’t come to the event, she extended her congratulations to the launch of CSWDO’s new building. She also expressed her support to the local government of Davao for its commitment to ensure progress and provide quality service to Dabawenyos.

“Adding this new CSWDO building in Davao City is one of the efforts to bring community-direct programs of the national government closer to Dabawenyos, such as the pantawid pamilya program, sustainable livelihood program, supplemental feeding program, cash-for-work, calamity seeds, and assistance for individuals in crisis situations among others,” Legarda said in her message sent to Mayor Sara.

Aside from the construction of the new building of the CSWDO, Legarda also supported the programs and projects of Davao City such as the construction of the Cultural Center Multipurpose Tribal Hall, and the Barangay Health Station and Multipurpose building – both in Brgy. Tamayong, Calinan District. CIO