Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary for Standards and Capacity Building Cluster Denise FB. Bernos-Bragas, who is the outgoing Chairperson of the Yakap Bayan Program (YBP) Technical Working Group (TWG), officially turns over the YBP Materials to the incoming Chairperson, Undersecretary for Operations Cluster Monina Josefina H. Romualdez, on Tuesday (January 16) at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.

The turnover is part of the institutionalization of the YBP from the agency’s Innovations Cluster to the Operations Cluster. The YBP is now a regular program of the DSWD under the Operations Group starting 2024 after its successful pilot testing in San Juan, Batangas; Barbaza, Antique; and Glan, Sarangani, proving its effectiveness, responsiveness, efficiency and sustainability in addressing the needs of Recovering Persons Who Use Drugs (RPWUDs).

In accepting the program materials, Undersecretary Romualdez vows to provide exigent technical assistance to local government units that are implementing the program to further its vision of transforming the so-called “surrenders” to community leaders.

Present during the activity are Asst. Secretary for Statutory Programs Ada Colico; Asst. Secretary for Innovations, Atty. Baldr Bringas; Social Technology Bureau Director Marcelo Nicomedes Castillo, and Program Management Bureau Director Miramel Garcia-Laxa. #