Philippine Children’s Ministries Network

PCMN Now a Registered Resource Agency with DSWD-NCR

The Department and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the government’s lead agency in social welfare and development. It has the following functions:

• Formulates policies and plans which provide direction to intermediaries and other implementers in the development and delivery of social welfare and development services.
• Develops and enriches existing programs and services for specific groups, such as children and youth, women, family and communities, solo parents, older persons and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs);
• Registers, licenses and accredits individuals, agencies and organizations engaged in social welfare and development services, sets standards and monitors the empowerment and compliance to these standards.
• Provides technical assistance and capability building to intermediaries; and
• Provides social protection of the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged sector, DSWD also gives augmentation funds to local government units so these could deliver SWD services to depressed municipalities and barangays and provide protective services to individuals, families and communities in crisis situation.

Through the years, PCMN has an informal relationship with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. We attended meetings that they convene, invited some of their key people as speakers to network events, e.g. training, and consulted them for various concerns. With almost all of the network’s member-organizations being licensed and accredited by DSWD, it would be ironic for PCMN to continue operating without formalizing its status as a registered entity with the agency.

In 2010, we began the application process to be registered as a resource agency. The requirements that we were asked to submit include the certificate of registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, annual work and financial plan, annual work report, audited financial report, manual of operations. Finally our application was approved. Last June 27, 2011 at the DSWD-NCR Building, PCMN together with several other organizations received the certificate of registration from Director Alice Bonoan. PCMN is now a duly registered resource agency with DSWD.