DSWD head visits CAR, strengthens ties with LGU partners
By Justine Rich Talusan
DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to strengthen partnership with the local government unit on the provision of social protection programs in the region.
Gatchalian and Ifugao Gov. Jerry U. Dalipog signed the deed of donation that formally handed over the ownership of a 1,037 square meter parcel of land to the DSWD Field Office (FO) CAR.
According to the DSWD, the donated land is intended for the construction of the DSWD FO CAR warehouse and Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Office.
The DSWD warehouse will serve as a disaster response hub to ensure the sufficiency of food and non-food items for augmentation and immediate provision of assistance to the region and other neighboring localities.
Gatchalian said the SWAD Office will provide easier access to the residents of Ifugao and nearby areas seeking assistance from the DSWD.
The DSWD chief and FO CAR Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla expressed their gratitude to the provincial LGU of Ifugao represented by Gov. Dalipog and Vice Governor Glenn Prudenciano.
The DSWD, its FO in CAR, and the LGU of Ifugao also signed the Specific Implementation Agreement (SIA) on the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) – Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) in the identified conflict-vulnerable areas in the land-locked province of Ifugao.
The tripartite signing strengthens the collaboration between the DSWD, FO CAR, and the LGU of Ifugao in providing necessary assistance to the localities of Ifugao province.
Through the SIA, the three parties committed to provide capacity building to the SLP Associations (SLPAs), extend necessary support interventions to the local or community micro-enterprise generation of SLPAs and monitor the program to ensure the sustainability of the projects being implemented in the province.
After the ceremonial signing, Gatchalian spearheaded the second batch of distribution of the Livelihood Settlement Grant (LSG) to the affected vendors of the fire that razed some parts of the Baguio City Public Market on March 11.
Some 469 eligible beneficiaries received P10,000 each as part of the early recovery intervention of the DSWD that seeks to support the immediate restoration of their affected livelihoods.
