The implementation of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 had created the Municipal Social welfare and Development Office in the same year to be the frontline in the delivery of basic social services to Tarlacqueños. On April 18, 1998; the Municipality of Tarlac had become a City of Tarlac thus changing the name of the office into City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Poverty is a major cause of the complex hard realities in our society today. No single office can effectively address the problem; hence, enhanced partnership with various sectors is a must.

Throughout the years City Social Welfare and Development Office had been providing front line services to our disadvantaged constituents. To combat the ill-effects of poverty here in Tarlac City, the delivery of prompt and efficient service in every depressed community and every indigent individual needs to be addressed by the CSWD personnel. The number of our clientele group had gradually increased due to people’s empowerment wherein our disadvantaged constituents had been aware on how to avail the services being provided by the government.

I.  Mandate:

To develop and effectively implement a comprehensive program of social welfare services to facilitate the integration of the most disadvantaged and distressed constituents; that will liberate them from poverty and empower disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities for an improved quality of life in the city.

II.  Vision:

A City where people of diverse culture live together with equal access to opportunities, enabled by a fair, just, peaceful, and progressive community that have been freed from hunger and poverty.

III.  Mission:

To provide effective and efficient public service to Tarlacqueños through implementation and coordination of social welfare and development policies and programs for and with the unfortunate, vulnerable and disadvantaged.

IV.  Goal:

To improve the well-being of individuals, families and communities and the liberation of the unfortunate from deprivation.

V.  Objectives

a. Care, protect and empower socially disabled constituents and the physically handicapped for effective social and physical functions;

b. Improve the social and living conditions of the disadvantage segment of the community level that would develop contributing residents to the progress of the city;

c. Synchronize the service facilities required from concern department, agencies, governmental and non-governmental to provide an alleviating welfare package to constituents based on their needs;

d. Improve policies and measures addressing Social Welfare and Development Policies and Programs.

VI.  Programs and Services:

LIST OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

1.    DAY CARE SERVICES

It is the provision of supplemental parental care by a Day Care Worker to a child 3 to 6 years old during part of the day when parents cannot attend to his needs.

Under this set-up, a child is engaged in various Early Childhood care and Development activities like playing, arts and crafts, new sharing and storytelling, songs and poems, which offer opportunities for creative experiences, mental simulation, cognitive skills development, physical development, and value formation.

2.    SELF EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (SEA)

Capability building program to economically active poor through provision of soft loan as additional livelihood capital to their existing micro-enterprises for them to uplift the living condition.

3.   ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS SITUATION (AICS) / INDIGENCYPROGRAM (EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE)

Provision of financial assistance to individual/family to augment medical/funeral expenses of the patient/deceased’s immediate relative, as well as to augment daily needs of family who is in crisis situation

4.   TARLAC CITY EARLY INTERVENTION / REHABILITATION CENTER FOR THE DIFFERENTLY-ABLED PERSONS (SPED DAY CARE CENTER)

The center adheres to the principle of “equalization of opportunities” that makes the society and the environment, such as services, activities and information made available to all particularly to persons with disabilities.

It also adheres to the principle of equal rights which implies that the needs of each and every individual. Regardless of their condition, are of equal importance and that persons with disabilities are members of society and have the right to remain within their local communities and should receive the support they need with in the ordinary structures of education, health employment and social services. As part of providing equal opportunities, provision should be made to assists DAPs to assume their full function and responsibility as members of society.

Primordial concern of the center is promotion g the academic readiness and social adaptation of its clientele. Its other concerns are in promoting functional literacy and pre vocational training for beginning school children and adolescents, aside from conducting social activities like arts, sport festivities and recreations. The center conducts social activities to enhance sensory perceptual and numerical skills of differently abled persons or PWDs.

5.   CITY OF TARLAC INTEGRATED SCHOLARSHIP AND INCENTIVE PROGRAM

The provision of quality education in order to produce quality students who shall become pillars of our society by providing scholarships or financial assistance to senior high school graduates and college students who are willing to pursue and/or continue Bachelor’s Degree, Associate Degree, Technical/Vocational, Medical- related and Agricultural courses. The City Government of Tarlac provides assistance in the form of cash allowance, book allowance, uniform allowance, and dormitory allowance for full scholars; and cash assistance and stipend for student- grantees.

6.   PRE-MARRIAGE COUNSELING (PMC)

This service refers to the counseling on preparing for conjugal and family life, how to handle marital adjustment problems/differences, how to enrich marital relationships and deciding about legal separation and its negative effects (Family Code).

7.   UNLAD KABATAAN PROGRAM

To promote the total development of the out of school youth and other disadvantaged youth to become self-reliant, economically productive and socially responsible citizen, able to contribute to the development of the family, community through organization of Pag-Asa Youth Association in barangay. The Pag-Asa Youth Association is federated to city, regional and national level.

8.   PERSONS WITH DISABILITY PROGRAM

Refers to services on disability prevention, rehabilitation, and equalization of opportunities for physically, mentally, and socially disabled persons in order to enhance their capability to attain a more meaningful, productive and satisfying way of life and ultimately become self-reliant and contributing members of society.

Our service is to provide an equal opportunities and provisions, and to assists Person With disability/Differently Abled Person to assure their full function and responsibility as member of the society.

9.   CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW

Republic Act 9344 – Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006. It is the formulation of a Comprehensive Juvenile Intervention Program (complete with plans and monitoring reports).

Establishment and updating database of Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), which would cover children who are “locked up”/detained, have undergone intervention,

diversion and rehabilitation programs and after-care support services.

I.  Mandate

Special Livelihood Projects Management Office is under the directives of the Mayor’s Office. SPMO manages the Citronella and Waterlily projects and organize special events like Flower Market during Valentines, Palaspas on Palm Sunday, Flower and Candles on All Saints Day, Kakanin during Simbang Gabi and Firecrackers and Pyrotechnic Devices for New Year’s Eve. Its mandated functions are (1) manage the citronella extraction center; (2) provide technical assistance in propagating and harvesting citronella plants in schools and communities; (3) look for institutional buyers for citronella essential oil and waterlily products; (4) conduct trainings on weaving to Kaisa Women Organization (KWO) members and Persons with disabilities (PWDs); (5) provide job opportunities and increase the income of KWOs and PWDs; and (6) organize and oversee business retailing during holiday seasons.

EXTERNAL SERVICES

Special Livelihood Projects Management Unit also organize and supervise Business Retailings like Flower Market during Valentine’s Day, Palaspas Market for Palm Sunday, Flowers and Candles for All Saint’s Day, Kakanin (Rice cakes) for Simbang Gabi and Firecrackers and Pyrotechnic Devices Market in celebration of New Year’s Eve.