By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1176, June 19 of every year is officially declared as Filipino Social Workers’ Day, a fitting tribute to the dedication, resilience, and invaluable contributions of social workers across the nation.
The 2025 celebration, held at The Manila Hotel, was spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the DSWD Academy, in partnership with the ASEAN Social Work Consortium–Philippines (ASWC‑Ph). The event was graced by key DSWD officials, including Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Undersecretary Denise Florence Bernos‑Bragas, Assistant Secretary Janet Armas of the Regulatory Services Institutional Development Group (RSIDG), Undersecretary Adonis Sulit of the Policy and Plans Group, and DSWD Academy Director Justin Caesar Anthony Batocabe. A total of 176 participants coming from the ten (10) ASWC-PH member associations and DSWD attended the activity.
With the theme “Tibay at Pagkakaisa ng Salinlahi Gamit ang Talino, Husay, at Kalinga Para sa Pagpapanatili ng Kagalingang Pantao”, the celebration served as a powerful call for resilience and solidarity across generations. It highlighted the vital role of social workers in safeguarding human dignity through their wisdom, excellence, and compassionate service. This year’s theme underscored the collective responsibility of social workers to continue upholding and advancing human well-being in an ever-evolving society.
One of the event highlights was the Keynote Message of the Former DSWD Secretary Corazon Alma G. De Leon.
Former DSWD Undersecretary Alicia Dela Rosa-Bala, who served as the Deputy Secretary General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community shared her rich experiences working with ASEAN member-states.
Also in the program were MAJ. Sittie Resmin Ismael Candotan MAC and CPT Mark Bryan Miranda MAC (Res) social workers in the military setting, who discussed the unique challenges and meaningful experiences of serving in uniform.
Secretary Rex T. Gatchalian graced the momentous event, where he proudly recognized the outstanding dedication and invaluable service of social workers and Local Government Units across the country. As a highlight of the celebration, ten (10) exemplary social workers were honored under the “Natatanging Pagkilala sa mga Huwarang Manggagawang Panlipunan”—a special recognition awarded to those who have demonstrated exceptional hard work, unwavering commitment, and meaningful contributions in serving the Filipino people and driving positive societal change.
In line with the celebration, the “Pagkilala sa Natatanging Kontribusyon sa Bayan” or PaNata Ko sa Bayan Awards were also given to various local government units (LGUs) that demonstrated exemplary performance in the delivery and implementation of social welfare and development programs. These awards recognized the outstanding efforts of LGUs in uplifting the lives of individuals, families, and communities, and in providing responsive and impactful services to various sectors of their communities.
In his message, Secretary Rex expressed his deep gratitude to the social workers who provide “extra love and extra care in social welfare services round the clock”.