Butuan City – The Local Government Units (LGUs) throughout the Caraga region had actively participated in the consultation workshops spearheaded by the Poverty Reduction Programs Unit (PRPU)-Convergence Strategy of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on November 6-8, 2013 at Gateway Hotel, Surigao City and on November 13-15, 2013 at Mazaua Island Resort, Butuan City.
The activity entitled “Consultation Workshop on LGUs Support for Transition of Pantawid and Other Poor Beneficiaries aimed to achieve: Deeper understanding of the Internal and External Convergence; Promote co-ownership of the poverty reduction programs by strengthening collaboration among LGUs, MATs, communities and other stakeholders; Identified the strengths and opportunities, as well as the challenges and constraints in facilitating and operationalizing convergence programs and; Understand the Municipal Transition Plan (MTP) as it relates to the overall Development Plans.
The LGUs, which were mostly represented by the Provincial/City/Municipal Planning and Development Officers, Provincial/City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers and Provincial/City/Municipal Action Team Leaders/Members, were provided with appropriate technical know-how in understanding and analyzing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in their respective areas. The Regional Project Coordinator of KALAHI-CIDSS, Elsa D. Montemor facilitated what was otherwise known as the SWOT Analysis.
The PRPU-Convergence Strategy of the DSWD-CARAGA had achieved its internal and external convergence strategies through the City/Municipal Transition Planning (MTP) Workshops conducted in almost all cities and municipalities across the region. In fact, the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte had already completed the MTP workshops in 5 cities and 54 municipalities while Agusan del Sur had already conducted the MTP workshops in 12 areas.
“The Department also tapped the P/C/MCSWDOs and P/C/MPDCs as main or key partners in the recently concluded transition planning activities for the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. Moreover, the need to capacitate them further is tantamount to ensure that they take the lead role in getting the development support of the LGUs through planning process and delivery of basic services in order to sustain socio-economic development gains of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries,” said Luz C. de Guzman, Regional Convergence Coordinator.
Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli encouraged the stakeholders to continue and carry out the DSWD’s slogan “Magiliw, Matapat, Mahusay” in delivering social services and programs to the recipients.
The Convergence strategy links the Department’s social protection and poverty reduction programs to establish strategic focus, complementation and operational efficiency for the empowerment of all its stakeholders – beneficiaries, LGUs, NGOs, service providers and intermediaries. ### Social Marketing Unit (Maria Cecilia N. Sosas)
