THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development assured the public that it would continue its relentless campaign against all forms of violence toward children, even beyond the National Children’s Month celebration.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian highlighted the importance of collaboration among partners and stakeholders to advocate for stronger measures to protect children from abuse.

The Council for the Welfare of Children, an attached agency of the DSWD, led the NCM activities. These included initiatives across four thematic areas: survival rights, development rights, participation rights, and protection rights, all aimed at advocating for preventive measures to end violence against children.

Meanwhile, the second group of postgraduate diploma scholars in Child Protection and Case Management, comprising 49 social workers, recently graduated.

The eight-month program, held at Miriam College, was funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund and involved social workers from DSWD’s central office and its attached agencies.

“Born from the shared vision of empowering our social workers with enhanced expertise to address the evolving challenges in the field, the post-graduate diploma course aligns with the DSWD’s efforts to strengthen child protection systems in our country,” said Undersecretary Denise Florence Bernos-Bragas during the graduation ceremony.

Bragas noted that the program enhanced the technical capabilities of DSWD personnel, enabling them to provide better assistance to local social welfare offices.

She added that the partnership with UNICEF and Miriam College marked a significant step in fulfilling DSWD’s commitment to protecting children and helping them reach their full potential.

The first batch of 50 DSWD scholars graduated on September 30.