DEPDev-RDC XI Center, Davao City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) are calling on the Regional Development Council (RDC) XI to support two key frameworks that aim to uplift social welfare and harness the region’s population potential for inclusive growth during the fourth quarter meeting of the Social Development Committee (SDC) XI on October 27, 2025.
The Service Delivery Capacity Assessment (SDCA) and the Regional Population and Development Plan of Action (RPD-POA) 2023–2028 were presented to the SDC XI, emphasizing the need for stronger local action to improve social services and leverage demographic trends.
The SDCA, led by DSWD, is a three-year assessment of Local Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDOs) to ensure compliance with national service standards. Results from 2022–2023 revealed persistent capacity gaps. DSWD urges LGUs to create permanent social work positions, increase budgets for vulnerable sectors, and strengthen local councils for children and victims of violence. To institutionalize the process, DSWD seeks RDC XI endorsement of the SDCA to secure sustained LGU support for social service delivery.
On the other hand, the CPD’s RPD-POA 2023–2028 translates population data into targeted strategies to achieve a demographic dividend. In Davao Region, 39.55% of the population are of school age, while 8.17% are older persons, highlighting the need to balance youth development and active aging programs. CPD is requesting RDC XI adoption of the RPD-POA and support for institutionalizing Barangay Population and Development Workers (BPDWs) to ensure community-level implementation.
The Committee also discussed other key social development matters in Davao Region, including the midterm update of the Davao Regional Development Plan (DRDP) 2023–2028 and the Davao Regional Investment Program (DRIP) 2023–2028 for the social sector, along with highlights from the Second Semester 2025 SDC National–Regional Consultative Meeting.
The SDC XI meeting was held in hybrid format as a precautionary measure following the recent series of earthquakes in the Region. It also marked the first meeting presided over by the SDC XI Chairperson-Elect, DSWD XI Regional Director Rhuelo Aradanas, for the 2025–2028 term.
