# Administrative Code of 1987/Book IV/Title XVI/Chapter 1

Source: Supplement to the Official Gazette. Vol. 83, No. 39. Manila. National Printing Office. 1987. pp. 48–50.
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Chapter 1—General Provisions
Section 1. Declaration of Policy.—The State is committed to the care, protection, and rehabilitation of individuals, families and communities which have the least in life and need social welfare assistance and social work intervention to restore their normal functioning and enable them to participate in community affairs.
Sec. 2. Mandate.—The Department shall provide a balanced approach to welfare whereby the needs and interests of the population are addressed not only at the outbreak of crisis but more importantly at the stage which would inexorably lead to such crisis. Following such strategy, the Department's objectives shall be to:
    (1) Care for, protect and rehabilitate the physically and mentally handicapped and socially disabled constituents, for effective social functioning;
    (2) Provide an integrated welfare package to its constituents on the basis of their needs and coordinate the service facilities required from such departments or agencies, governmental and non-governmental, which can best provide them;
    (3) Arrest the further deterioration of the socially disabling or dehumanizing conditions of the disadvantaged segment of the population at the community level; and
    (4) Advocate for policies and measures addressing social welfare concerns.
Sec. 3. Powers and Functions.—To accomplish its mandate and objectives, the Department shall:
    (1) Formulate, develop and implement plans, programs and projects in the field of social welfare and development;
    (2) Adopt policies to ensure effective implementation of programs for public and private social welfare services;
    (3) Promote, support and coordinate the establishment, expansion and maintenance of non-governmental social welfare facilities, projects and services;
    (4) Establish, operate, maintain and otherwise support institutional facilities, projects and services for its constituents;
    (5) Promote, build and strengthen people's organizations for a self-directing welfare system at the grassroots level;
    (6) Promote, support and coordinate networks and facilities for the identification and delivery of appropriate interventions to its welfare constituents;
    (7) Accredit institutions and organizations engaged in social welfare activities and provide consultative and information services to them;
    (8) Undertake researches and studies on matters pertaining to its constituency;
    (9) Initiate, promote and maintain bilateral and multilateral linkages, for technical cooperation, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs;
    (10) Provide advisory services and develop and implement training standards and programs for personnel, social workers and students and third-country participants for career and staff development in social welfare activities;
    (11) Disseminate information and publish technical bulletins on social welfare and development;
    (12) Deputize law enforcement agencies to assist in the implementation of laws, rules and regulation for the protection of the rights of the exploited, abused and disadvantaged;
    (13) Regulate fund drives, public solicitations and donations for charitable or welfare purposes;
    (14) Set standards, accredit and monitor performance of all social welfare activities in both public and private sectors;
    (15) Exercise functional and technical supervision over social workers in other government settings or agencies like courts, hospitals, schools and housing projects;
    (16) Deputize local government units and other agencies of government as are necessary in providing disaster relief;
    (17) Coordinate all activities pertaining to the implementation of programs and services for the disabled, the aging and other socially disadvantaged; and
    (18) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
Sec. 4. Organizational Structure.—The Department, aside from the Department Proper comprising the Office of the Secretary, the Offices of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries and the Services, shall consist of the Bureaus, Regional Offices, Provincial/City Offices and Municipal/District Offices.
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