Urgent Need for Reforms in the Inspection and Accreditation of Orphanages and Child Care Facilities

His Excellency Ferdinand E. Marcos, Jr. President of the Republic of the Philippines Malacañang Palace Manila Your Excellency, Subject: Urgent Need for Reforms in the Inspection and Accreditation of Orphanages and Child Care Facilities I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to express grave concern about the apparent negligence of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in its duties to inspect and ensure the welfare of children in orphanages and similar facilities across the Philippines. Several reports highlight systemic issues that require immediate attention: 1. First Report: A Catholic volunteer serving disadvantaged children has raised significant concerns about the current state of DSWD inspections. According to him: o The Bureau of Standards (BS) of the DSWD does not conduct thorough spot visits to childcare homes, nor do they speak directly with the children. o Accredited institutions undergo regular inspections, but most homes remain unaccredited and fail to meet basic standards. o He recommends forming a full-time, independent monitoring team to visit these facilities, engage children one-on-one in safe environments, and assess their well-being and living conditions. 2. Second Report: o Many childcare homes operate without accreditation and are rarely visited by the Bureau of Standards. o Inspections, when conducted, focus solely on physical infrastructure and administrative records, ignoring the emotional and psychological needs of the children. o The absence of healing programs and failure to conduct individual interviews leave the children’s suffering unnoticed and unaddressed. 3. Third Report: o A Bureau of Standards inspector once instructed the orphanage to create a secure "lockdown" room for emotionally upset children, a suggestion reflective of outdated and inappropriate practices. The Bureau of Standards, a key bureau within the DSWD, is tasked with policy development, regulation, accreditation, monitoring, and capacity building for social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs). While systems like the Child Status Index (CSI) and Orphanage Information Management System (OIMS) exist globally to ensure safe and nurturing environments for children, it appears that the Philippines lacks an effective and systematic approach to achieve these goals. Recommendations: 1. Establish an independent monitoring team composed of qualified social workers, psychologists, and child welfare experts to conduct surprise visits and confidential interviews with children in orphanages. 2. Revise and enforce accreditation processes to ensure that all childcare homes meet high standards of care, including the implementation of healing programs. 3. Utilize best practices and tools, such as the CSI and OIMS, to improve the evaluation and management of childcare facilities. 4. Enhance the capacity and accountability of the Bureau of Standards to address these issues promptly and effectively. Mr. President, the children in these facilities are among the most vulnerable members of our society. It is our moral and legal responsibility to protect them and ensure they are provided with a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. I respectfully urge your office to direct the DSWD to address these deficiencies and implement the necessary reforms. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I trust in your commitment to the welfare of Filipino children and your leadership in making meaningful changes. Respectfully yours, Ramon Ike V. Seneres iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com cc: Hon. Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Hon. Secretary of Justice Hon. Secretary of Health Hon. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government 01-08-2025