ILOILO City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas has reinforced its frontline workforce with 257 newly hired case managers under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), in a major move to improve service delivery to vulnerable households across the region.
The new personnel, designated as City and Municipal Links (C/MLs), officially took their oath of office on Aug. 1 at the DSWD-6 regional office compound in Molo district here. Their deployment across various towns and cities in the region is expected to significantly reduce the caseload per case manager and strengthen the agency’s capacity to provide tailored, family-focused interventions.
“The addition of 257 staff is exceptionally significant, as it will greatly lighten the burden on our case managers, allowing them to devote more time and resources to each household,” said Belen Gebusion, chief of DSWD Region 6’s 4Ps Division.
With the expanded team, caseloads per case manager are projected to drop to 212–292 households, a marked improvement from previous ratios that often exceeded manageable thresholds. The move brings the region’s 4Ps workforce to a total of 1,038 personnel.
Gebusion emphasized that this expansion is especially timely with the upcoming transition of 4Ps households nearing their exit from the program after completing the seven-year cycle.
“This initiative is particularly timely as we approach the transition period for the households enrolled in the 4Ps program. It is our utmost priority to ensure that, prior to their exit after completing seven years in the program, these households receive comprehensive support and management from our newly recruited Program Development Officers (PDOs),” she said.
The newly appointed staff will act as dedicated case managers — conducting home visits, facilitating program activities, and implementing personalized case management plans aimed at helping families rise out of poverty.
Before the formal oathtaking, Ryan de la Gente, chief of DSWD-6’s Human Resource Management and Development Division (HRMDD), oriented the new hires on their roles as the agency’s frontliners, calling them the “Angels in Red Vests.”
“The 4Ps program is more than just a social assistance initiative — it embodies our collective commitment to serve, uplift, and empower our beneficiaries,” de la Gente told them.
He also highlighted the DSWD’s mission to ensure that every marginalized individual has the opportunity to live a dignified life, anchored on the agency’s guiding slogan, #BawatBuhayMahalagaSaDSWD.
“The DSWD logo itself is a profound representation of our core values. The heart symbolizes the vulnerable sectors we serve, illustrating our compassion and dedication, while the hands reflect the collaborative effort between government entities and private partners in delivering compassionate, empowering, and effective services to those in need,” he added.
The ceremony was led by DSWD Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Joselito Estember, who administered the oath of office and underscored the crucial role the new hires will play in advancing the agency’s mission./PN
