DSWD-7 SMU Wins Best Support Office

The Social Marketing Unit (SMU) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas bagged the Best Support Office during the recently concluded 2017 DSWD Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) award held in Landbank Plaza, Malate, Manila.

The DSWD PRAISE is given to honor men and women who devoted their lives to partner-beneficiaries, and who continue to use all their strength, skill, intelligence, and compassion to uphold a standard of professionalism that fully benefits the poor and marginalized sectors.

The SMU is headed by regional information officer Leah Quintana. The SMU staff includes the information officers of various programs of the Department namely; Ma. Jessa Cereño (Listahanan), Kerwin Macopia (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), Venice Polancos (Kalahi-CIDSS) and Joanne Era Soliano (Sustainable Livelihood Program).

Runners-up for the said category are Social Marketing Service of Central Office and Policy and Plans Unit of Field Office III.

During the brief response, Quintana said that even if the SMU is one of the smallest unit in the field office 7, it proves that even a small group of creative, responsible and committed people can make a difference.

Quintana was accompanied by DSWD-7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre and Assistant Regional Director for Administration Herminia Cabahug.

Aside from the Best Support Office, other group awards were also handed like the Best Operations Office, Best Center and Best Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU).

Also honored during the event are the 16 Gawad Huwaran awardees from all over the country.

Gawad Huwaran is given to a DSWD employee who is able to render extraordinary work performance or service and exemplary demonstration of DSWD’s three core competencies in his/her work execution, thereby significantly contributing to the achievement of the strategic goals of the office/bureau/service and DSWD.

Ms. Papiasa B. Bustrillos, Social Welfare Officer IV and SWAD Bohol team leader, is one of the recipients of Gawad Huwaran.

The PRAISE Awards is the DSWD’s culminating activity for its 67th anniversary, and is also the most important: through this ceremony, the entire DSWD affirms its commitment to social work, to community development, and to aspirations of a stronger, more efficient agency that relies on the collective power of its employees and leaders to accomplish what is necessary to help those who seek the Department’s help.