Butuan City- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for partnership with the Silangan Mindanao Mining Company, Inc. on December 9, 2013 at Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center,  this City.

In its efforts to share its best practices, technology and expertise in community development to other private agencies with the same advocacy of helping poor communities, the DSWD Caraga initiated its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the said company.

The MOA signing was participated by Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli of DSWD Caraga, Engr. Robert F. Wagtingan, Project Site Manager of SMMC, Inc. and Vice Mayor Severaliza L. Macula of Tubod, Surigao del Norte.

It was witnessed by the Regional Project Management Office (RPMO) and DSWD Caraga staff, some SMMC Inc. workers and few LGU-Tubod, SdN personnel.

In her inspirational message for building partnership, RD Brigoli said that the Department is very excited and willing to share its technology in community development with the kind of outreach program a big company like SMMC, Inc. has in order to help the people in the locality.

“The goal that we want for those who will benefit for this partnership will be attained through the experiences and technology that we already have which excellently worked well,” RD Brigoli said.

The partnership will entail DSWD-Caraga to provide technical assistance to the SMMC, Inc. in their programs for social services and for the private company to adopt the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.

CDD approach is the technology used by the DSWD in one of its poverty-reduction program, the Kapit-Bisig Labana sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).

Kalahi-CIDSS uses the CDD approach that encourages participation of the local communities in addressing local poverty issues and it is aimed at empowering people, improving local governance and reducing poverty.

### (Eunice G. Montaos/Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Caraga)