POLICIES/GUIDELINES ON THE DEVOLUTION OF DSWD CENTERS/INSTITUTIONS AND PROGRAMS

RATIONALE

Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code
of 1991, transfers the responsibility for the delivery of basic services
and the related facilities from the National Agencies concerned to the
Local Government Units. It also promotes the establishment and operation
of Peoples’ Organizations (POs) and Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs) to become partners in the pursuit of local autonomy through joint
ventures and other cooperative arrangements in the delivery of basic
services to enhance the economic and social well-being of the people.

Section 17 of the Local Government Code of 1991 states that the basic
services and facilities being devolved by the National Agencies, in
this case the DSWD, are programs/services on the welfare and development
of the child and youth, family and community, women, the elderly and
disabled persons, community based rehabilitation programs for
mendicants/street children, juvenile delinquents, strandees, abandoned
and neglected children/ elderly/persons with disabilities ( PWDs);
livelihood and other pro-poor projects; nutrition services; and family
planning services.

This will be accompanied by the turn-over of personnel, centers,
records, equipment, assets and facilities to ensure the continuity of
the delivery of the devolved basic services. The LGU shall acknowledge
receipt of transfer and responsibilities appurtenant thereto, of
personnel, assets and liabilities including pertinent records and
equipment.

In accordance with RA 7160, the devolution on the delivery of the
basic services from DSWD to the Local Governments concerned began on
1992. After five (5) years, the Department’s efforts are now focused
towards enabling the LGUs and turning-over to them centers/institutions
within their jurisdiction, in terms of clients, programs/services,
resources and manpower requirements, according to their absorptive
capacities.

IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES

To ensure smooth devolution of the DSWD centers/institutions to the LGUs/NGOs, DSWD shall be guided by the following processes:

1.         Pre-implementation

1.1    Assessment Evaluation and Social Preparation

1.1.1.   Evaluation Committee. The Regional Field
Offices shall organize an Evaluation Committee composed of five (5)
members consisting of: two (2) from DSWD, two (2) from the LGU and one
(1) from the NGO, with the Regional Director as the Chairperson.

1.1.2.   The DSWD Evaluation Committee shall meet with the
Municipal/City Mayor/Governor and Sangguniang Bayan/Panglungsod
officials and other significant officials of the LGUs and/or
officers/representatives of the NGOs, and propose the devolution of the
center’s/institution’s facility/program, presenting the objectives
including assessment reports of the program undertaken in the
centers/institutions for each participant;

1.1.3.   Planning. The Regional Evaluation and
Assessment Committee will hold consultative sessions to further discuss
the assessment report and agree on a plan for the phases of devolution.

1.1.4.   Draft a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) spelling out the
expectations and responsibilities of the contracting parties, time
table/phasing of transfer and other requirements.

1.2.      Procedures

A.      The concerned Field Office shall organize and analyze
data gathered from audit monitoring, or evaluation reports conducted by
the DSWD on the status of centers/institutions in terms of meeting the
set standards and the capability of the LGUs/NGOs to assume the
responsibility of assuming the operation of the centers/institution.

B.      The region shall submit its recommendations to the
Central Office on the readiness of the LGUs/NGOs to assume
responsibility over the operation of the centers/institutions on the
following levels of devolution:

Level 1   —        Can assume the “Full Take Over” of the operations;

Level 2   —        Can only share part of the
expenses, e.g., manpower, supplies and materials,
transportation/subsistence allowance, etc., as the case may be, but with
DSWD still maintaining management of the center   IDAaCc

Level 3   —        Can undertake the management of the center but needs fund augmentation from DSWD.

C.      The Central Office thru the Bureau concerned shall assess
and validate the recommendations of the Regional Office. A report would
then be made regarding Central Office Management’s final decision.

1.3       Criteria for evaluation. The criteria in assessing/evaluation capabilities of LGUs/NGOs shall include the following:

a.      Willingness, interest and commitment to take over the
responsibility of managing and operating the centers/institutions, e.g.
Lingap Centers, Productivity Centers, AVRC, Substitute
Homes/Institutions for Women/ PWDs;

b.      Financial capability to operate and maintain the facility and undertake the program on a sustainable basis, e.g.:

Productivity Skills Center — providing supplies and
materials, construction and repair, subsistence and transportation
allowance of needy disadvantaged trainees;

For Institutions — provision of food, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities for the clients;

c.       Manpower. Capability of absorbing the adequate technical
and administrative personnel compliment which includes but not limited
to:

For the Productivity Centers — Center Head, Trainer, Social Worker/Welfare Worker, Security Guards, Clerks, Utility Worker, Project Evaluation Worker;

For Substitute Homes/Institutions — center head, houseparents, security guards, social workers and clerks;

d.      Availability of a facility that meet the standard requirements in accordance with the area of specialization, i.e .,

For the Productivity Centers — to house the equipments as
well as to serve as training centers where the present facilities
contained in DSWD owned buildings could be transferred.

For the Institutions — the availability of facilities that
can accommodate 25-30 clients at any given time, to include sleeping
quarters, living room, toilets and bathrooms dining room, kitchen and
nursery;

Meantime however, the DWD existing facility may be used until such
time that concerned LGU/NGO can find a new home for the wards/clients.

2.         Implementation — The turn-over of the
center/institution/program shall take effect immediately upon the
signing of the Memorandum of Agreement. Implementation of the transfer
of the centers/institutions by Phases will depend on the result of the
evaluation on the levels of capability of the LGU/NGO stated in Section
1.2 of this guidelines. Subsequent assessment and evaluations that will
be conducted should ensure LGUs graduation from Level 3 to Level 1
gradually.

3.         Post Implementation

3.1    Monitoring and Evaluation — as mandated by law, the DSWD
through the concerned Bureau and Field Office/ s, shall regularly
monitor the implementation/operation of the center/institution/program
to maintain the standards of operation. Visits shall be done once a
month for the first six (6) months and quarterly thereafter;

3.2    Technical Assistance shall be provided by the Field Office
with the assistance of the Bureau concerned for continuous upgrading of
the facilities, enhancement of the Knowledge, Attitude, Skills (KAS) of
staff and enrichment of services;

3.3    A quarterly report in the prescribed form shall be submitted
by the LGUs/NGOs/POs to the Field Office on the Centers operations.
This report shall be analyzed by the Field Office concerned and
forwarded to the Office of the Secretary with corresponding
recommendations.

EFFECTIVITY

This order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 18 Sept. 1997

(SGD.) LINA B. LAIGO
Secretary