Coron, Palawan – Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led the Joint National and Regional Advisory Committee  meeting and field visit in Coron, Palawan last April 23-25, 2014.

The activity is regularly conducted by the Department involving other National Government Agencies (NGAs) to strengthen operational mechanics and institutional arrangements among partner agencies. In the recent field visit, the members of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) and Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) observed the outcome of various DSWD programs to the beneficiaries.

The focus of the field visit is to highlight the convergence strategy of the Department allowing beneficiaries particularly the Indigenous People (IP) to benefit from three major programs including Pantawid Pamilya, Kalahi-CIDSS and Sustainable Livelihood Program. It also aims to gather more assistance from the participating partner agencies to make better living conditions for the beneficiaries.

As part of the Convergence program, Coron showcased the on-going Cash-for-Work project for families affected by typhoon Yolanda. Enlisted beneficiaries were offered temporary livelihood opportunity on two projects: rebuilding Yolanda-damaged houses on a course of 10 days and rebuilding livelihood community assets for 15 days.

Sec. Soliman said, “Pantawid Pamilya is not the only answer to poverty but the convergence of the various programs and services of the DSWD together with the other government agencies and support of the local government unit.” She stressed that the field visit looks at needs of the community through different lenses that help in the formulation and sharpening of programs provided by the government.

The activity was attended by the staff from Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget, Department of Labor and Employment, National Anti-Poverty Commission, National Economic and Development Authority, National Commission on Indigenous People, National Nutrition Council, Commission of Population, Philippine Commission on Women and Council for the Welfare of Children. ###