On January 3, 1951, the then Social Welfare Commission created in 1947 and the President’s Action Committee on Social Amelioration created in 1948 were consolidated to form the Social Welfare Administration (SWA) through Executive Order No. 396 signed by then President Elpidio Quirino.

The SWA was later elevated into a department in 1968 by virtue of Republic Act No. 5416 and in 1987, it was reorganized and renamed what is now known as Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).