CHAPTER I

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE
INDICATORS
The Social Welfare Indicators (SWI) was first developed by the Ministry of Social
Services and Development (MSSD) in 1980 under the leadership of Deputy Minister
Sylvia
P. Montes. It was formulated based on a study of the field workers experiences in
assisting individuals and needy families uplih their lives from stagnation and
degradation to a level befitting dignified human beings'.
To measure the progress of upliftment, the MSSD identified three levels of family
well being: Survival, Subsistence and Self-Sufficiency. Whereas, well-being was
defined by two major indicators: Economic Sufficiency and Social Adequacy.
Economic sufficiency is measured by three variables: 1) employment/job; 2) income;
and 3) social security membership. Social adequacy is measured by eight main
variables: 1) health; 2) nutrition; 3) sanitation; 4) hygiene; 5) housing and other living
conditions; 6) educational status of household members; 7) social cultural; and 8)
role performance. A score matrix is used to determine the level of well-being of a
client/household by getting the average of the actual scores of the indicators.
The succeeding years lead to the institutionalization of the Case Management System
(CMS) and the SWI.
+ 1981 MSSD installed a case management system utilizing the SWI (AO 110 Series
of 1981Subject: Policies and Operational Guidelines for the MSSD Case
Management System). This was initiated by Ms. Eugenia Jamias who developed a
Case Management Manual which was used in the nationwide training of social
workers.
+ 1982 A nationwide training for social workers and supervisors on social case
management and the Social Welfare Indicators was undertaken. The SWI was then
administered to regular clients in communitybased/noninstitutional programs and
those under MSSDs institutional or residential care programs.

+ 1986 After the February Revolution, a reorganization of government took place.

The MSSD became the DSWD. New programs and strategies such as the
baranganic approach were introduced and subsequently the SWI became the
Family Welfare Indicators (FWI). It was then used to measure the impact of the
Self Employment Assistance (SEA) Program on the level of well-being of its
beneficiaries.

'MSSD Social Welfare Indicators Notes from Assistant Bureau Director Pacita D. Sarino

+ 1991 The Local Government Code took effect leading to the devolution of basic
social welfare and development services to the local government units (LGUs). In
view of the devolution, some LGUs gave priority to other programs and initiatives
which slowed down the case management and the use of the SWI.
With the passing of time, the social/family welfare indicators were set aside as more
tools were developed by other institutions relative to anti-poverty programs such as
those for the community-based monitoring system (CBMS) and the minimum basic needs
(MBN). The MBN was primarily developed by DSWD as part of the Comprehensive
and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) strategy under the Social Reform
Agenda of then President Fidel V. Ramos. These tools were reviewed in relation to
the updating of the SWI.

An Empirical $tudy on the family Welfare Indicators

An empirical analysis of the FWI was made by Dr. Romeo C. Quiet 2

based on the research studies he conducted in 1985 which focused on SEA
beneficiaries from the province of Rizal and a nationwide study in 1988. Dr. Quietas
analysis is summarized as follows, with italization done for emphasis:
The need to use the FWI in assessing the clients level of poverty and his
uplihment from a state of survival to subsistence and to self-sufficiency is
necessary. Once again, it is proven that these indicators are adequate and reliable
measures of the clients development.
The use of these indicators should always be underscored by the DSWD in the
management of cases as well as in the evaluation and termination of cases. And so if
these indicators work with DSWD, there is therefore a need to disseminate their use
in other public and private welfare agencies.

2. In the development of family well-being, it is essential that employment

opportunities be provided. And that these should be viable so that income can
substantially contribute in meeting other basic needs. Therefore, social workers
should not only work with clients for the attainment of economic objectives but
also in the attainment of social changes. (A regression analysis showed that
economic sufficiency leads to social adequacy and to family well-being.)
A comprehensive plan for the client is therefore necessary. The plan should not only
have for its objectives the delivery of services (e.g. SEA) but should also have
objectives which could aim for important changes and transformations in the social
conditions of the client.
'A Professorial Chair Paper on Social Work Administration by Dr. Romeo C. Quieta, Professor of Social Work of
the College of Social Work and Community Development, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
'Quieta, Romeo (1989). An Empirical Analysis of the DSWDs Family Welfare Indicators. Quezon City: UP CSWCD,
p.20

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