A joint memorandum circular creating a special committee which will ensure the efficient and harmonized delivery of assistance during disaster and emergencies has been signed.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with other national partner-agencies signed the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, series of 2021 on Oct. 4.
JMC No. 1 serves as the “Implementing Guidelines for Accelerating and Harmonizing Aid and Humanitarian Operations of the National Government or AHON During Disasters and Emergencies”.
“The JMC 1 s. 2021 creates a special committee which will ensure the efficient and harmonized delivery of assistance under the Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide (AHON) Convergence Program,” the DSWD said in a statement.
The AHON Convergence Program is provided under the Executive Order No. 137, which was issued this year. It aims to institutionalize a platform for an enhanced and unified delivery of social services to poor and marginalized communities around the country, especially those affected by disasters, calamities, and even the current pandemic.
It “ensures the efficient delivery and convergence of different government programs and services to aid the disaster-affected population, and to guarantee their immediate recovery,” said DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista.
The DSWD serves as vice chair of the AHON Convergence Program.
Basic services such as food and non-food relief items; livelihood, educational, burial, transportation, employment, medical, health, and direct financial assistance; as well as infrastructure funds for preparedness and rehabilitation facilities can be availed from the program.
Under the convergence program, the provision of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, Sustainable Livelihood Program, and the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services were committed by the DSWD to aid all Filipinos in need
“With the creation of the AHON Convergence committee, the DSWD pledges to continue to work hand-in-hand with concerned agencies to ensure a well-coordinated provision of social welfare and development services to support the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors of society,” the DSWD said.
Aside from Bautista, the virtual signing ceremony was graced by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Gregorio Honasan, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Charade Grande, Assistant Secretary Atty. Jingle Chua of the Office of the President (OP), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Assistant General Manager Juliet Aseo, and Senator Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go.