The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is taking a new step toward making the agency’s programs more responsive to Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) by committing to listen more closely to their lived experiences, culture, and needs.

This commitment is part of the Kasama Katutubo Project, a partnership with the Council for Climate and Conflict Action Asia (CCAA), that focuses on developing and digitizing a new survey tool that is values-based and resilience-sensitive.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and CCAA Executive Director Francisco Lara Jr. signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City on Thursday (June 19). Witnessing the signing were Undersecretary Fatima Aliah Dimaporo of the DSWD’s Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs and CCAA Trustee and Senior Adviser Nikki Philline De La Rosa. (YADP)