The Department of Social Welfare and Development, Field Office V hosted the Executive Committee meeting held recently at DSWD, Field Office. The EXECOM was headed by DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman. With her were USEC. Mateo Montano, USEC. Angelita Gregorio- Medel, Assistant Secretaries Chona David Casis, Vilma Cabrera, Javier Jimenez and Margarita Ana Perez, Head Executive Assistant.

In their two days stay in Bicol, the members of the EXECOM had an interaction with the field office staff as they were having the first Regional General Assembly for 2013.

The visit of the EXECOM in Bicol was highlighted with the turn-over of check amounting to 10m to the Provincial Government of Albay. This is intended for the construction of an evacuation center in San Jose, Malilipot, Albay. The check was received by Provincial Board Members Ralph Andes and Raul Borja from Secretary Dinky Soliman.

They also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreements on the following programs and projects:

The MOA signed between the DSWD, DILG and the Department of Tourism was on “Trabahong Turismo.” The MOA signing was represented by Regional Directors Arnel Garcia, Blandino M. Maceda and Maria-Ong Ravanilla, respectively.

“Trabahon Turismo” is one of the strategies conceptualized to uplift the level of well-being of the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries from survival to self-sufficiency .It is premised on the belief that if there is an available livelihood projects and opportunities they can be self-reliant and sustaining individuals.

A memorandum of understanding  on the advocacy for Poverty Reduction and Social Protection Programs and services was also inked between the DSWD and Radyo Veritas Legazpi represented by Director Arnel Garcia and Rev. Fr. Paolo Barandon, the station manager.

This is a provision of a two-hour airtime every Saturday with the DSWD as the main host of the program.

Also, a MOA signing between the DSWD and the Unibersidad de Sta Isabel, the latter offers to paraprofessionals the Bachelor of Science in Social Work through the DE PAUL WEEKEND PROGRAM intended for the staff of DSWD who desire to take up Bachelor of Science in Social Work  given two years to finish the course.

The EXECOM were also able to visit other regional facilities like the Reception and Study Center for Children and the HAVEN for Women and Girls at the DSWD Complex, Brgy Nasisi, Ligao City. ###crbarrameda/eejerusalem