How can social workers ensure that every case involving a child or a vulnerable woman under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) gets the attention and protection it deserves?

That was the central challenge posed to members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Gender and Development (GAD) Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) during their deepening session held at La Roca Veranda Suites in Legazpi City, where new tools, partnerships, and plans were laid out to answer it.

The session gathered 4Ps Social Welfare Officers III, SWO II Community-Based Social Workers, Women and Child Protection Specialists, and Regional Center Social Workers from across the Bicol Region to align efforts and strengthen the delivery of social protection services under 4Ps.

Focused on collaboration and capacity enhancement, the discussions positioned on key agenda items namely: the current Pantawid GAD situationer in the region, the proposed expansion of RTWG-GAD membership, updates to the 4Ps Case Manager’s Handbook, a special case conference from Bulan, Sorsogon, and the ongoing review of the RTWG’s roles and functions.

The group emphasized that violations of children’s rights, such as child labor and exploitation, are clear child protection concerns under the Pantawid program. To address these, a harmonized approach to data collection and monitoring was proposed, integrating tools from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to improve consistency and accuracy. The initiative also calls for expanded participation from LGUs, child protection centers, and social institutions to strengthen local response systems.

Regular brown bag learning sessions, the sustained involvement of Provincial TWG focal persons, and increased local-level advocacy were identified as vital strategies to support these reforms. The expansion of the RTWG-GAD membership was also discussed, aiming to include both internal and external stakeholders engaged in gender and child welfare work. This will pave the way for a more multidisciplinary and community-anchored approach to case management.

To enhance local monitoring, the group recommended sharing the Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence (CP GBV) Tracker with SWO II Community-Based Social Workers. They also reaffirmed the importance of utilizing the DSWD-DILG Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2022, especially for LGUs encountering recurring challenges in handling CP and GBV cases. This directive supports compliance with the Social Protection component of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

Additionally, RTWG members agreed to integrate SWAD Core internal meetings with existing case conferences to cover a broader range of case types not only those involving CP or GBV. They also clarified that LGU-referred cases should be formally escalated to DSWD Bicol through proper and standardized referral mechanisms.

The session concluded with a transformed commitment to advance gender and child protection under the Pantawid program. Through stronger partnerships, clarified roles, and harmonized protocols, the 4Ps GAD RTWG seeks to deliver more inclusive, rights-based, and responsive services for the most vulnerable sectors across the region.

These efforts directly contribute to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Ten-Point Agenda for social protection, particularly in strengthening human capital and promoting inclusive governance. The initiative also reflects the strong advocacy of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian for child- and gender-sensitive service delivery, and benefits from the unwavering support of DSWD Field Office V Regional Director Norman Laurio, who continues to champion effective regional systems to uphold the rights and welfare of women and children under 4Ps.