City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) Head Betty Fangasan was recognized by the Association of South East Asian Nations Social Work Consortium as an Outstanding Leader during the celebration of the 3rd Philippine Social Worker’s Day on June 19.
Fangasan received the award after her term as chair of the consortium, a conglomeration of different social workers’ groups in the country.
Social Worker Cynthia Langagan who served as executive secretary of the association, said the consortium’s by-laws, records, and developmental programs were put into order during Fangasan’s term of office.
Fangasan served as head of the CSWDO for 29 years.
During her term, packaged social protective services to marginalized sectors were delivered and social welfare facilities such as the Silungan Center, Bahay Pag-asa, social development center, youth auditorium, senior citizen day center, youth home, and family resource centers were established and constructed.
Additional social services for the disadvantaged community, women, youth, children, senior citizens, and victims of natural and man-made calamities were also implemented.
Fangasan received numerous local and national awards, honors, and recognition such as Best Social Worker and Josefa Llanes Escoda; outstanding public employee and outstanding citizen from the Baguio Filipino-Chinese community; Gintong Tala luminary award from the city’s elderly community; a plaque of appreciation from San Luis; and from Plan International.
She is a member and serves as an officer of various organizations such as the Balikatan, Magnolia Lions, Zonta, Young Men’s Christian Association, Philippine National Red Cross, Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, Baguio Elderly Assembly, and Association of Social Welfare and Development Officers.
Among the purposes of the consortium are to strengthen solidarity among social work educators, practitioners, and schools of social work and promote and institutionalize effective collaboration towards the achievement of responsive and excellent social work education in the ASEAN region. – Julie G. Fianza
