After his brief, but significant visit to the conduct of the Financial Assistance Payout, through the AICS program in Butuan City earlier today, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian met with the Local Chief Executives (LCEs) Agusan del Norte, headed by Provincial Governor Hon. Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante, 1st District Representative Hon. Jose “Joboy” Aquino II, and Butuan City Mayor Hon. Ronnie Vicente Lagnada.

 

“I want to personally meet you so I can hear from you your experience with DSWD – so that we can work better together, Sec. Gatchalian said after being warmly welcomed by the LGU heads.

Since accepting the challenge to lead DSWD almost a couple of months ago, Sec. Gatchalian has been doing the rounds, conducting dialogues with partners and stakeholders, especially the LGUs, to ensure that the Agency performance its mandate.

 

The Secretary said that he intends to listen to partners to improve the implementation of the different programs and services, especially their operationality. The Secretary discussed to the body the big ticket programs, with the hope that these programs will be supported and appreciated by the LCEs.

 

“I would like to discuss with you our other programs, because we do not like our image to just be the provider of disaster aid. We have programs like the KALAHI-CIDSS , and the Sustainable Livelihood Program, which I think will help your constituents better,” Sec. Gatchalian said.

Sec. Gatchalian encouraged the Mayors to share their observations in the implementation of the aforementioned programs, and their recommendations on how to make them effectual. Sec. Rex also asked the Mayors to share the most pressing needs of the LGU in terms of social welfare, social protection.

 

Gov. Amante shared her vision for the Agusanons, and hoped that DSWD will have a big part in achieving it. She said that for the government to be more effective, especially in addressing the plight of the marginalized and disadvantaged sectors, the LGUs and the National Line Agencies must have convergence, especially that there are programs and services that are complementary to each other.

 

Mayor Lagnada (Butuan City) on the other hand encouraged the municipal/city mayors to invest in strengthening their competencies, stating that most national programs implemented at the local level fail because of the lack of support from the LGUs. He believes that the LGUs can address this by being more aggressive in the preparatory phase of the program’s implementation – sharing the responsibility in capacitating stakeholders and ensuring support systems.

 

After hearing the suggestions and the issues from the LCEs, the Secretary shared some good news on the status of the soon-to-be-built Mindanao Disaster Resource Center (MDRC). Caraga Region, specifically Butuan City, is being identified as the location for the MDRC. He said that he will give his support so that this plan will be realized.

Before leaving to catch up with his flight back to Metro Manila, Sec. Gatchalian thanked the Field Office, through Regional Director Mari-Flor A. Dollaga for doing the leg work for the AICS payout and the meeting with the LCEs. He promised to support the Field Office, and the LGUs of Caraga in whatever needs there might be to ensure the welfare of the Caraganons. ###(Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga).