The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V – Bicol Region through its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Provincial Operations Office in Albay, successfully wrapped up the second leg of BURULIGAN 2025: Convergence Forum and Conference on Engaging Children and Youth Education last June 10–11 at the Benezia Hotel, Renaissance Garden, Washington Drive, Legazpi City.
The two-day event convened vital stakeholders from the Department of Education (DepEd), Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWDO), and Local Youth Development Offices (LYDO) to address one of the most pressing challenges facing 4Ps which is related to school participation among child-beneficiaries and to boost reintegration efforts for out-of-school children and youth (OSCY) across the Bicol Region.
With the theme focused on strategies for sustaining student interest in school and reintegrating OSCY, the forum provided a platform for collaboration and innovation. Participants looked into the root causes of school non-compliance. Among the top grounds were poverty, emotional or mental struggles, family or cultural influences, and not knowing about available programs that could help.
From these discussions came helpful ideas and practical solutions. These included better teamwork among government offices, providing emotional and psychological support to students, making educational resources more available, and holding information campaigns in communities.
The conference concluded with a shared commitment among the participants: “We may come from different agencies, but we are united in our mission, to serve our communities and empower today’s children and youth, who are tomorrow’s leaders and workforce.”
Supporting President Marcos Jr.’s Ten-Point Agenda, this initiative helps make sure no child is left behind especially when it comes to education and support for out-of-school youth. It also exemplifies the DSWD’s core mission, led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, that “Bawat Buhay Mahalaga sa DSWD.”
DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio calls for sustained partnerships among government offices and communities to build long-term education pathways that empower youth to rise and thrive.
BURULIGAN 2025 is more than a series of forums. It is a region-wide movement for educational resilience, paving the way for every Bicolano 4Ps child and youth to access quality learning opportunities, regardless of circumstance.
Following the successful Masbate and Albay leg, BURULIGAN 2025 continues its regional rollout across the Bicol Region. The forum was held in Camarines Sur on June 16–17, followed by ongoing events in Sorsogon today, Camarines Norte on June 19–20, and Catanduanes on July 3–4.