The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will head the Socio-Cultural Community, one of the three pillars of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), this year. The Philippines will be the chairman of the Asean in 2017. The social welfare department, through Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, aims to help the Asean become more people-oriented and socially-responsible to foster greater solidarity and unity. She added that the concerns of vulnerable sectors such as women, children, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, farmers, workers, fisherfolk should be addressed. The Asean summit 2017 will be launched on January 15 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City.

Source: Manila Times January 14, 2017 13:00 UTC