DSWD called out for having only around 3,000 permanent employees

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 20) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was questioned for only having 3,337 permanent employees out of more than 37,000 workers.

"Totoo bang ang permanent position lang ninyo sa dinamidami ng empleyado ay 3,337? Napakakaunti naman," Sen. Imee Marcos asked Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian during the Senate's hearing on the agency's proposed ₱209.92-billion budget for 2024 on Wednesday.

[Translation: Is it true that the DSWD only has 3,337 permanent positions? It's very few.]

Gatchalian confirmed that only a small part of the agency’s workforce is permanent.

"We have 20 [assistant secretaries] but as mentioned, they have all tendered their courtesy resignations, each and every one of them, because we are rightsizing and streamlining," he added.

Gatchalian also said the DSWD is coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) regarding the rightsizing.

But Marcos was still dismayed with the management practice of DSWD.

"This is very, very bad management practice. Na wala pa sa 10% ang permanente, ‘yung halos lahat JO (job order) at contractual. Bakit nagkaganito ito? Hinayaan na lang ng DBM? You have to create new positions, clearly," she said.

[Translation: This is very, very bad management practice. Not even 10% of the number of employees are permanent and most of them are JO and contractual. What happened? Did the DBM just allow this to happen? You have to create new positions, clearly.]

The DBM said it will evaluate DSWD's proposal for reorganization next year.

"Nakalinya for next year, subject to the evaluation of DBM, ‘yung proposals nila for reorganization," said DBM Chief Budget and Management Specialist Pol Vincent Perocho.

[Translation: It's already lined up for next year, subject to the evaluation of DBM, their proposals for reorganization.]