To strengthen existing ties and further improve the delivery of social welfare programs, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian met with the World Bank and World Vision during separate meetings at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City on March 3.
In a meeting with World Bank Country Director for the Philippines Ndiamé Diop, Gatchalian discussed several initiatives that the DSWD plans to pursue, one of which is the strengthening of Kapit-Bisig Against Poverty-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi- CIDSS) National Community Driven Development Project.
The DSWD chief plans to make Kalahi-CIDSS more accessible to partner-implementing local government units and end-users or beneficiaries of the project.
He also aims to intensify the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project to ensure that it helps address hunger and malnutrition in the country.
Moreover, Gatchalian discussed easing the beneficiary’s experience in seeking assistance from the DSWD through the Beneficiary-FIRST Project.
These programs and projects are currently being implemented by the DSWD in partnership with the World Bank.
Likewise, Gatchalian expressed gratitude to the World Bank for their valuable contribution in empowering the communities to achieve improved access to services and in improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable sectors.
In a separate meeting, the DSWD chief also acknowledged World Vision’s support and assistance in keeping Filipino children safe from online sexual abuse and exploitation and the worst forms of child labor.
Gatchalian said the DSWD wants to make the partnership with World Vision “richer and more robust” to explore different ways of protecting children.
The World Bank and World Vision expressed their full support and commitment to assist the DSWD in achieving its mandate of providing programs and services to protect the welfare of every Filipino.