All ranking DSWD officials asked to resign

ALL undersecretaries and assistant secretaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had been asked to submit their courtesy resignation, Secretary Rex Gatchalian disclosed on Wednesday.

He said that the officials will undergo evaluation for the agency's streamlining of the operations.

The DSWD chief said that he has yet to act on the resignations because they are busy attending budget hearings in Congress.

Gatchalian added that he has started streamlining their operations.

The DSWD has nine undersecretaries, although the department is allowed to have 11.

The official made the revelation after Sen. Christopher «Bong» Go asked why there are so many undersecretaries and assistant secretaries at the DSWD during the public hearing of the Finance Subcommittee on the proposed 2024 budget of the department.

Also, during the hearing, Sen. Rafael «Raffy» Tulfo expressed concern over the non-regularization of job order and contract of service (Jocos) employees even if they have been with the agency for years.

Tulfo also took note of the agency's lack of vehicles, putting the employees in constant danger, especially those delivering pay-out money for Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) beneficiaries.

Gatchalian said the department has submitted numerous requests for plantilla positions to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Of the 37,000 DSWD employees, 8,336 are Jocos.

The DSWD chief admitted they have «very few trained social workers,» and most are in community development services.