Pakistani government officials visited the Valenzuela City local government as part of the Social Protection Study Tour on Tuesday, Oct. 3, and to learn more about the city's system and programs on social welfare protection.
According to the Valenzuela Public Information Office (PIO), the Pakistani officials initiated the three-day “Social Protection Study Tour” in the Philippines in coordination with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The City of Valenzuela served as the benchmarked city for this tour, highlighting its programs and services offered through the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
The tour also allowed the Pakistani representatives to check on the city's innovative housing project known as the Disiplina Villages.
The Pakistani delegation was led by the Secretary for the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Mr. Yusuf Khan. They were also joined by the ADB Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Division Mr. Saeed Ashraf Siddiqi.
Staff members of the ADB, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Office and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field office - National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) were also present during the educational governance tour.
At the start of the tour, the delegates were brought to the Valenzuela City Museum where they were provided with a concise yet comprehensive overview of the city's historical origins.
During their visit to the Valenzuela City Museum, the delegates gained insights into the city's transformation, tracing its journey from the colonial era to its current status as an industrialized and progressive urban center.
The delegates also visited the ALERT Multi-purpose Hall where they learned about the programs, projects, and initiatives of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
The session included a presentation followed by a question and answer segment. It highlighted the wide range of programs implemented by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) on social welfare protection and development.
The city's Housing and Resettlement Office also provided an overview of the Disiplina Village. The Pakistani delegates commended the city government's efforts, not only in providing affordable and habitable homes for its residents but also in implementing livelihood programs that offer training and equip settlers with the skills required to sustain their livelihoods.
The Pakistani officials also visited the Disiplina Village Bignay where they had the opportunity to observe the infrastructure and living conditions of the beneficiaries residing there.
They also toured the Disiplina Village Bignay Livelihood Center where livelihood training sessions are taking place as well as the ICFP Community Garden.
The delegates had the opportunity to interview beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer program, known as the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" (4Ps), and gain deeper insights into their experiences.
Valenzuela City was cited by national and international government agencies as a benchmark city for good governance and strategic social welfare initiatives.