DSWD Field Office VIII welcomes new partnerships with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) MARDEL International Management & Services, Incorporated and PLAN International in conducting various projects and programs intended for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries in the region.

Regional Director Grace Subong signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Roy C. Soledad, Program Implementation Manager for Visayas Area of PLAN International, and Epifania Boyle, President and Founder of MARDEL International in a simple ceremony held on September 7, 2021, at Palo, Leyte. The moa signing was witnessed by 4Ps Division Chief Paula Unay, MARDEL Operations Manager Arlene Manansala, and PLAN Provincial Supervisor Welson Ramos.

Under the agreement, MARDEL International will focus on Kaagapay, Tulay, and Gabay as their areas of partnership. This includes the conduct of seminars and workshops for the development of 4Ps family members, including livelihood and skills training. They will also conduct employment facilitation, provision, and referral of job opportunities to both local and international job placements.

On the other hand, PLAN International’s focus will be on the areas of Kaagapay and Gabay as they carry out its programs and projects under Disaster Risk Management (DRM), Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE), Child Protection (CP), and Nutrition and Responsive Care (NRC). They will also be a resource agency during the conduct of Family Development Sessions (FDS) to talk about Child Protection, Gender, and Children’s Participation, including coaching/mentoring of the parent leaders and other activities in PLAN covered areas in the region.

Led by DSWD, 4Ps is a poverty reduction strategy of the national government with DSWD as the lead agency. Household beneficiaries are entitled to receive cash subsidies provided that the conditions on health, nutrition, and education are followed. This will foster necessary behavior for parents to adequately perform the duties and responsibilities, particularly in investing in their children’s future.#