City Social Welfare and Development Office - Zamboanga City

26/08/2026

| CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICE |

We are proud to share that the CSWDO Zamboanga City has achieved Level 3: Fully Functional / Improved Service Delivery status in the Service Delivery Capacity Assessment (SDCA) conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office IX! With an overall SDCA Index Score of 2.92, this high recognition highlights our office’s full compliance with DSWD standards, strong organizational capacity, highly competent team, and sustained delivery of quality social services to every Zamboangueño.

The Service Delivery Capacity Assessment evaluates how well a Local Social Welfare and Development Office serves its community across three main structural areas: Administration and Organization, Program Management, and Institutional Mechanisms. These categories assess everything from our office leadership, staff development, and public financial management to our efficiency in planning, case management, disaster risk management, and the implementation of devolved welfare programs for children, youth, women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and families in need. They also measure our active coordination through local mechanisms like the Zamboanga City Council for the Protection of Children (ZCCPC) and Zamboanga City Committee on Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Violence Against Women and Their Children (ZCCATIP-VAWC), along with our technical support to Civil Society Organizations.

This accomplishment is a true testament to the hard work, dedication, and collective efforts of the entire CSWDO staff under the steadfast guidance and leadership of our CSWD Officer, Ma. Socorro A. Rojas. Every social worker, technical staff members, and administrative personnel played a vital role in complying with every standard and ensuring that our programs make a meaningful impact on the ground.

This celebration is equally a powerful reflection of our strong partnerships and the trust of our community. We extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to Mayor Khymer Adan T. Olaso, and our partner LGU offices for their unwavering support and strong inter-office coordination. We are also immensely grateful to our non-government partners, civil society organizations, community leaders, and the general public. Your active collaboration ensures that our welfare services remain high-quality, continuous, and anchored on the highest standards set for public service.

Together let us continue building a safer, more compassionate, resilient and empowered vivientes na Ciudad de Zamboanga!

23/08/2026

CSWDO RESPONDS, SUPPORTS ADZU ON PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID| The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) swiftly responded and joined forces with the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) in the conduct of psychological first aid (PFA) sessions for students, parents, faculty and staff following the August 18 shooting incident at the university campus in Tumaga.

In collaboratio with the ADZU PFA team led by the AdZU Psychology Department, city social workers worked together with fellow mental health professionals coming from the Philippine Counseling Association of the Philippines Zamboanga City Chapter and other national agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), facilitated group Psychological First Aid (PFA) sessions for students and parents affected by the incident at Ateneo.

CSWDO head Ma. Socorro Rojas said In times of crisis, mental health and emotional well-being are just as crucial as physical safety.

Through these sessions, the CSWDO aimed to provide a safe space, compassionate support, and practical coping strategies to help our community process, heal, and recover.

Rojas added that CSWDO Zamboanga remains committed to working alongside academic institutions and community partners to ensure that social and emotional support reaches those who need it most. (details and photos: Ronald Cervas/ CSWDO)

18/06/2026

Laging Handa: CSWDO and Residential Facilities Join NSED!

Safety doesn't happen by accident—it takes practice, preparation, and teamwork! The CSWDO, alongside its various residential facilities, actively participated in the National Quarterly Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED).

From practicing the life-saving "Duck, Cover, and Hold" protocol to executing smooth, orderly evacuations, our staff and residents showed immense commitment to disaster preparedness and resilience. In the office, staff executed the desk drop protocol to protect themselves immediately. They then proceeded with an orderly evacuation down the stairwells and out through the building exits while keeping their heads protected. Both staff and residents successfully converged at the designated safe muster points and open areas.

By cultivating a culture of preparedness, we ensure that our team and the vulnerable sectors under our care are well-equipped to handle any emergency situation. Bida ang Handa!

04/06/2026

Recognizing the Unsung Heroes of ECCD - The Search for Most Outstanding Child Development Worker

The search is officially on as the City Government of Zamboanga, through the CSWDO, conducts the evaluation and final interview phase for the Search for the Most Outstanding Barangay Child Development Workers (BCDW) for 2026.

This prestigious award honors frontline workers who demonstrate extraordinary resilience, technical proficiency, and innovative "thrive-and-sustain" strategies to provide high-quality education despite limited resources.

Spearheading the selection process is our distinguished panel of experts and Board of Judges: Councilor BG Guingona IV (Sangguniang Panlungsod Chair on Social Works and Welfare), Ms. Rahima Jimlano (Nutrition Officer, City Health Office), Ms. Ma. Jesusa Alvarez (Assistant CSWDO), Ms. Kim Mateo-Rojas (Nutritionist & Dietitian, DSWD SFP), and Ms. Shelly Jane Ramos (Nutrition Officer, DSWD SFP).

Nominees are currently being evaluated through a strict two-stage process comprising a Technical Portfolio Review (70%) and a Final Interview & Oral Defense (30%). Ultimately, the Top 5 Most Outstanding BCDWs will each receive cash prize, a Plaque of Recognition, and the honor of serving as the city’s primary ambassadors for early childhood care and development best practices.

The recognition ceremony is set to take place on June 17, forming a major highlight in the city’s celebration of Child Development Workers Week. (text and photos, RCervas)

02/06/2026

The CSWDO kicks off the first two batches of the 2-day capacity building training focused on Republic Act 11930 and Recognizing and Responding to OSAEC-CSAEM Cases. This initiative will run until June 6, training a total of five batches of participants.

The sessions at a local hotel bring together group of stakeholders from the ZCCPC, ZCCATIP-VAWC, and BCPCs, alongside law enforcement officers from the Zamboanga City Police Office, Naval Forces, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine Army. Active participation also from child representatives and student leaders ensures that the voices of the youth are front and center in this advocacy.

Throughout the training, participants are learning from resource experts, including Atty. Joey Gumera from the International Justice Mission, dedicated police officers from the WCPC-MFU, and Dr. Marcelina Carpizo, a long-staunch champion and advocate of trafficking in persons and OSAEC-CSAEM.

This collaborative effort aims to strengthen the frontlines, sharpen local response skills, and unite the community to ensure a safer, more protective environment for every child in Zamboanga City.

02/06/2026

LOOK| Some 2,000 beneficiaries of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program happily receive jolly meals from the city government under the administration of Mayor Khymer Olaso, Monday, June 1, 2026.

The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program enters its second year implementation cycle in Zamboanga City, operating as a vital tripartite partnership among the Zamboanga City Local Government Unit, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Education, and the Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University.

For this implementation cycle, the initiative targets a total of 2,000 learner beneficiaries who are distributed across 34 public elementary schools divided into seven distinct school districts.

Central to the ex*****on of this program is the deployment of university students who serve as tutors to provide direct reading remediation to the elementary learners, and youth development workers to conduct parental support and development sessions.

This multi-sectoral initiative leverages the resources of national agencies and the LGU alongside this trained student workforce to systematically address foundational literacy gaps and enhance community-based learning support across the city's strategic school divisions.

23/05/2026

Nagpahayag ng taos-pusong pasasalamat ang Tara! Basa Tutoring Program sa Zamboanga City sa patuloy na suporta ng mga katuwang na ahensya at organisasyon, kabilang ang DepEd, LGU, CSWDO, at Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines.

Sa halos araw-araw na pamamahagi ng snacks at libreng lunch para sa mga learners, parents, at students, naging malaking tulong ang kanilang kontribusyon upang mapanatiling masigla, aktibo, at motivated ang mga kalahok ng programa.

Patunay lamang na ang nasabing suporta ay mahalagang bahagi ng tagumpay ng Tara! Basa Program dahil bayanihan at sama-samang pagtutulungan ng iba’t ibang sektor ng komunidad.

21/05/2026

18/05/2026

📢 PABATID SA PUBLIKO: Patungkol sa Educational Assistance Program (Ordinance No. 908)

Upang maiwasan ang kalituhan at pagkalat ng maling impormasyon, ipinapaalam ng CSWDO ang tamang proseso para sa mga benepisyaryo ng Educational Assistance Program:

WALANG APPLICATION PROCESS: Tandaan na walang aplikasyon na kailangang sagutan, hingin, o ipasa kahit saan—hindi sa mga field office ng CSWDO o sa CSWDO Main Office at hindi rin sa mga paaralan. Kaya naman bawal ang walk-in.

PAARALAN ANG MAGPAPATUNAY: Ang mismong pampublikong paaralan kung saan kasalukuyang nakatala o naka-enrol ang estudyante ang may buong responsibilidad na mag-verify ng mga kwalipikadong mag-aaral. Sila ang magpapatunay kung ang estudyante ay pasok sa mga criteria, lalo na ang kwalipikasyong "ipinanganak at lumaki sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga" (born and raised).

DIREKTANG PAGSUSUMITE NG MASTERLIST: Ang paaralan ang awtomatikong magsusumite ng opisyal na masterlist ng mga kwalipikadong mag-aaral nang direkta sa CSWDO.

⚠️ PAALALA: Pinakikiusapan ang publiko na sa mga lehitimo at opisyal na social media accounts lamang ng pamahalaan magbasa ng impormasyon. Iwasan pong mag-panic o maniwala agad sa mga unverified posts. (Infographics from City Govt of Zamboanga)

18/05/2026

LOOK| CITY GOV'T ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR EDUC'L AID PROGRAM| The Zamboanga City Government has issued comprehensive implementing guidelines for Ordinance No. 908 or Educational Assistance Program, to ensure the proper, transparent, and orderly distribution of educational assistance to qualified students.

Under the guidelines, K-12 learners will receive P1,000 annually, composed of P500 for school supplies and P500 for uniform allowance, while students in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) will receive P750 per semester for transportation assistance. Summer classes are strictly excluded from the coverage.

The program covers bona fide Zamboangueño learners enrolled in K-12 and SUC students who are born and raised in the city, while excluding post-graduate students, second-degree takers, scholarship grantees, and those enrolled in additional tertiary courses after completing a first degree.

APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL WHERE THE STUDENT IS ENROLLED and the school will submit all applications and requirements to the CSWDO.

To ensure eligibility, applicants must submit a PSA-authenticated birth certificate or a birth certificate issued by the City Civil Registrar. Schools are also required to submit a certified and notarized masterlist of qualified beneficiaries through principals, registrars, or authorized school heads to the City Mayor through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

For personal claims, beneficiaries are required to present an original valid identification card and submit one photocopy bearing three specimen signatures. College students must present a validated and updated school ID, while parents or guardians may use any Philippine-issued identification card.

In cases where the beneficiary cannot personally claim the assistance, an authorized representative may process the payout by presenting a handwritten authorization letter signed by the beneficiary or by the parent or guardian for K-12 learners. Representatives must also submit photocopies and originals of both the beneficiary’s school ID or valid ID and the representative’s valid Philippine-issued identification card.

For beneficiaries who passed away prior to the release of assistance, immediate family members may claim the payout by presenting the deceased beneficiary’s original ID or school ID, the claimant’s valid ID, a death certificate with registration number, and a signed Warranty and Release of Liability. For Muslim beneficiaries, a certification of death issued by the health center and signed by a midwife, together with certification from an Imam, shall also be accepted.

The implementation and payout process is jointly coordinated by the CSWDO, the City Budget Office, City Accountant’s Office, City Treasurer’s Office, and partner agencies to ensure efficient, transparent, and accountable fund distribution.

To safeguard program integrity, Section 9 of Ordinance No. 908 imposes penalties for fraudulent inclusion of beneficiaries, including imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to P5,000. Complaints involving exclusion or clerical errors will be verified and reconciled against official school records through the CSWDO.

The ordinance was authored by members of the City Council including Councilors Atty. Mel Sadain, Dan Vicente, Joselito Macrohon, Joel Esteban, and other members of Team Zamboanga as co-authors.