Coron, Palawan – Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led the Joint National and Regional Advisory Committee (N/RAC) meeting in this municipality last April 23-25, 2014.

The field visit aims to highlight the convergence strategy of the Department which allows the beneficiaries, particularly the Indigenous People (IP), to benefit from its major programs namely Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) and the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). It was also intended to gather more assistance from the participating partner-agencies to make better living conditions for the IP beneficiaries.

The meeting was attended by the officials from the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DoH), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Population Commission (POPCOM), National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), National Nutrition Council (NNC), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and DSWD’s attached agency, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC).

The Advisory Committees were created at the national, regional and municipal levels to enhance national ownership and promote joint efforts with partner-agencies and local implementers.  They are to ensure the availability of the supply side in terms health, nutrition and education. They are to promote complementation of services with other stakeholders and to provide the necessary support services to meet the conditionalities given to the beneficiaries for the success of the program.

The NAC on the other hand plays a particularly vital role in the implementation of the program as it monitors, reviews and assesses the program policies.

Apart from the grant received by the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya and infrastructures provided by the Kalahi-CIDSS, DSWD is also offering cash-for-assets to families affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Identified recipients of the program are offered temporary livelihood opportunity on two projects: rebuilding ‘Yolanda’-damaged houses in a course of 10 days and rebuilding livelihood community assets for 15 days.

“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,” Sec. Soliman said.

She stressed that the field visit looks at the needs of the community through different lenses that help in the formulation and sharpening of programs provided by the government.