The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) officially broke ground for the DSWD Academy-Mindanao at the Regional Government Center (RGC) Compound, Bago Oshiro in Davao City on May 21, 2026.
The ceremonial groundbreaking was led by DSWD-Davao Regional Director Rhuelo D. Aradanas, together with the Regional Management Committee. The academy is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
According to DSWD-Davao, the academy aims to make training programs more accessible and better address the training needs of personnel not only in Region 11 but also in neighboring regions. The facility will be constructed on a three-hectare site donated by the Davao City government in Bago Oshiro.
The academy is designed to accommodate 100 to 200 trainees and will serve social workers from across the region and other parts of the country. In an earlier interview, Aradanas stated that this would be the first training academy for social workers in Mindanao and would offer free training services to interested participants.
Currently, most training facilities are located in Metro Manila, requiring social workers from Mindanao to travel for professional development. The new academy aims to make training more accessible and cost-efficient.
The DSWD said the academy forms part of its broader effort to enhance the quality of social welfare services nationwide. The DSWD Academy will serve as a learning institution offering capacity-building programs to develop the skills needed to deliver effective social welfare services and community development initiatives.
