Article by Lovely Rose A. Bolante
CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines—In celebration of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Month, Samar State University (SSU) actively participated at the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Nationwide Frontline Service On-site Inspection, aimed at promoting efficient, and client-centric public service delivery. The inspection was held today, May 8 (25), at the DWSD Subfield Office, Catbalogan City, Samar, where SSU was represented by Dr. Sherrie Ann C. Labid, Executive Director for Research.
Dr. Labid served as one of the resource persons during the inspection of the DSWD-Subfield Office in Catbalogan City, alongside two other evaluators from different agencies based in Catbalogan. As part of the evaluative strategy, Dr. Labid immersed herself in the frontline process by discreetly assuming the role of a walk-in client, inquiring and applying for DSWD’s available programs and assistance. This offered a genuine perspective of the agency’s service delivery and client handling, allowing for more authentic feedback on accessibility, responsiveness, and efficiency.
The on-site inspection was anchored on a standardized Nationwide Frontline Service Inspection Checklist, covering key aspects such as compliance with the Citizen’s Charter, timeliness, professionalism, client feedback mechanisms, accessibility, and digital service readiness. The initiative is part of the government’s ongoing campaign to institutionalize transparency, accountability, and client satisfaction across all service touchpoints.
The SSU community commends the exemplary leadership of DSWD Regional Director Grace Subong and her dedicated team, along with the Catbalogan City Sub-Field Office, for their bold commitment to transparency and continuous improvement by opening their operations to rigorous external assessment—setting a high standard for frontline public service delivery in the region.
