Cebu City- Like two people making special connection, sharing a bond that has joined them by means of an experience and later on have drawn them together on a higher level of consciousness. Kindred spirits they may be called, yet they are two agencies joining forces in response to the challenge of meeting the Millennium Development Goals through Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4P’s- the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Last July 6-7, 2010 at the Ecotech Center in Lahug Cebu City, the Department of Education have initiated to convene for a workshop themed as DSWD-DepEd Consultation Workshop on 4P’s and Food for School Program. Its primary goals are to create an action plan for the succeeding partnership activities, with the specific roles and functions of both partners, and to set commitments bound to promote success as partner agencies for the program focusing on the municipal level. Municipal links, DepEd Administrative staff, and Focal Persons were the participants of said gathering. As a stakeholder, the Department of Education had seen how essential are the agency’s roles especially in keeping up a good camaraderie among partner agency so to strengthen the bond they share for the benefit of the program.
The participants then underwent an orientation of 4P’s and its system, but this time with elaborative yet concise roles and obligations as to what applies to the program based on initial results from the Compliance Verification  System Monitoring. An open forum had then become a medium for the participants to air-out issues and concerns of their assigned areas.

For Romeo Daz, Municipal Link of Mondragon Northern Samar, the activity dwelled on gaps, and problems that each participant had encountered along their way in keeping the program on track. It helped them identify what particular angle and level needed more attention to be able to resolve issues on the program. And having been part of the workshop together with the partner-agency representatives, simply implies strong comradeship towards success of 4P’s.

It takes a lot of effort in conquering battles along the way, yet with better understanding through joint efforts nothing is impossible.

The group had come up with an of action plan to address issues and concerns that were raised during the session. The participants then have committed to walk forward and together, looking through one vision in achieving goals set mainly for 4P’s.