National Capital Region

Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco led the installation of DSWD-NCR new regional director, held at the NCR Field Office grounds last January 10, 2011.

Director Ma. Alicia Sales Bonoan was warmly welcomed by the DSWD-NCR staff during her installation. She replaced Director Thelsa P. Biolena who was assigned as Director of the Standards Bureau at the Central Office.  It has been the policy of the Department to reassign the heads of filed offices and bureaus every three years.

Prior to Director Bonoan’s new assignment, she headed the Standard’s Bureau from January 2, 2007 to January 2, 2011 and the Social Technology Bureau from March 11, 2003 to December 29, 2006.

She started her career in Social Work in non-government organization (NGO) as a social worker of Holy Trinity Center, for a World Vision Philippines Project.  Five years later, she became a Program Analyst of World Vision Philippines.

A shift in her career happened in 1988 when she was employed as Social Welfare Officer III of the Bureau of Child and Youth Welfare (BCYW) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

From Social Welfare Officer III, she was promoted as Social Welfare Officer IV of the same Bureau in 1994 where she specialized in programs for the welfare of children and youths.

Her promotion as Social Welfare Officer V in 1997 brought her to other assignments at the Programs and Projects Bureau, and as Officer-In-Charge of the then Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) project.

She has attended several trainings and seminars conducted here and abroad.  Likewise, she has been a resource person/lecturer on various social welfare and development issues.

Undersecretary Yangco in her message urged the NCR staff to give Director Bonoan the cooperation and support they gave to the previous directors.  She also challenged the new director to experience how the policies developed in the central office are implemented in the Field Office. 

Likewise, she expressed her hopes that Director Bonoan’s experiences in ensuring the compliance of NGOs and Foundations to standards will help the region comply the criteria for International Organization of Standardization (ISO).

“My assignment as Regional Director of DSWD-NCR will surely bring a big change in my personal life and will complete my professional experience.  I have prepared myself to accept change and enjoy the change in my career,” Director Bonoan said in her response.