Naga City – The fist ABSNET Provincial General Assembly in Camarines Sur was held on May 12, 2014 at People’s Hall, City Hall Compound Naga City.

ABSNET or the Area-Based Standard Network has an end goal to institutionalize partnership with the SWDAs, NON- Government Organizations (NGOs) and People’s Organization (Pos) who are registered, licensed and accredited by the DSWD to provide quality programs and services to the beneficiaries they serve and perform regulatory function in coordination with the DSWD, Field Office.

In his message DSWD Director Arnel Garcia explained that the ABSNET General Assembly is first to conduct this the year. According to him, the activity is a venue for the ABSNET members to discuss issues and concerns of social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs) /Social Welfare Agencies (SWAs) in the discharge of their functions and peer helping per set standards specified in the department’s AOs 17 and 18 series of 2008, update SWDAs and SWAs regarding the mobilization of ABSNET Cluster Group and re-organize the ABSNET Core Group of Camarines  Sur and to strengthen  network as organized by the department and ensure their functionality.

Director Garcia encouraged the participants to identify new partners and strengthen the organization of the ABSNET. The department needs NGOs/POs who will handle family development sessions. “We shall be far better than what we are doing”, Garcia said.

Likewise, Director Garcia also turned-over the Certificate of Accreditation to the Help Learning Center represented by Mr. Jose Antonio Delos Reyes, the Project Director. ###eejerusalem