The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced the agency accredits pre-marriage counselors, who provide counseling services to engaged couples between 18 to 25 years old.
According to Division Chief Anna Maria Alexa Ledesma of the DSWD Standards Bureau (SB), pre-marriage counseling service is a professional way of guiding or assisting an engaged couple as they decide to formalize their union through marriage.
“This is being offered to couples who are getting married and are between 18 to 25 years old. It is required under the Family Code of the Philippines because the family is recognized as an important aspect here in the Philippines. So, this program is being offered to those who are getting married,” Ledesma said in a radio interview.
Under Executive Order (EO) 209 or The Family Code of the Philippines, the DSWD is mandated to accredit social workers and/or professionals, both from the private and public sectors, that are offering pre-marriage services for soon-to-wed couples aged 18 to 25 years old before they secure a marriage license.
On the other hand, contracting parties 18 to 25 years old may also secure their pre-marriage counseling certificates from the priest, minister, or imam (Muslim priest), who will solemnize their marriage.
The solemnizing officers are exempted from being accredited as pre-marriage counselors by the DSWD.
Interested professionals who have at least four-year courses with counseling as part of the curriculum or practice such as social work, nursing, or any behavioral and social sciences are required to secure their counseling accreditation clearance from the agency, through the DSWD Academy free of charge.
“We have also made our process of accreditation easier. Now they will just go to the DSWD Academy online link on the website where they can get the schedule of the training and then, after that, including the passing of our requirements,” Ledesma said.
Through the revitalized DSWD Academy, the agency is committed to ensuring that appropriate training is provided to pre-marriage counselors to guarantee that engaged couples are given extensive information to strengthen the foundation of the Filipino family and the practice of responsible parenthood.
The topics discussed in pre-marriage counseling sessions include acceptance and appreciation of their own uniqueness and of their future partner, understanding individual differences, importance of communication in marriage, and expression of lifetime commitment.
Courses and training opportunities on pre-marriage counseling, as required for the accreditation of pre-marriage counselors, can be accessed at: https://academy.dswd.gov.ph/training-courses_2025/.
Accreditation forms and requirements pursuant to DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 20 series of 2024 may be accessed through the Standards Bureau’s website: https://standards.dswd.gov.ph/pre-marriage-counselling.
