Recognizing the important role of Civil Society Organizations in ensuring a transparent and more effective implementation of its programs and services, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)continues to strengthen its partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs).
The DSWD organized a three-day Visayas Cluster Consultation with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Cebu City to discuss the status of current engagements of the CSOs in the different programs of the Department. The activity also sought to generate recommendations from the CSOs in the operations of DSWD core poverty programs, including policy-making, implementation, capacity building and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. It was attended by some 110 participants from Regions VI, VII and VIII.
“We would like to come-up with plans to further strengthen existing levels of partnership with our partner CSOs,” Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said.
Secretary Soliman added that the CSOs and volunteer partners serve as the ‘third eye’ of the DSWD.
At present, there are 421 partner-CSOs nationwide who are helping the DSWD in successfully implementing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
In Pantawid Pamilya, CSOs are engaged in facilitating the Family Development Sessions (FDS), Family Development Plus, Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT), massive validation of Pantawid beneficiaries, trainors training, monitoring and feedbacking.
In SLP, CSOs and private sector partnerships with the DSWD are currently being expanded and institutionalized for job generation. Labor requirements for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects will also be included in the list of job opportunities for Pantawid beneficiaries.
In addition, the DSWD is currently working with 131 CSOs in the implementation of SLP. Some of the DSWD-partners include: the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Association of Foundations (AF), Chamber of Commerce, League of Corporate Foundations (LCFs) and the Rotary Clubs. ###
