The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VIII (DSWD FO VIII) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Regional Office VIII (BJMP RO VIII) formalized their partnership on 25 February 2025, through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing at the BJMP Regional Office in Brgy. Guindapunan, Palo, Leyte.
The MOA establishes collaboration under the “SLP sa Piitan” initiative, which aims to provide sustainable livelihood interventions, skills training, and psychosocial support for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs). The program will initially be implemented in Tacloban City Jail and Catbalogan City District Jail.
Under the agreement, DSWD FO VIII will assess eligible participants, facilitate psychosocial development activities, and provide seed capital for microenterprise projects. Meanwhile, BJMP RO VIII will endorse beneficiaries, ensure program security, and assist in implementation.
Signing the MOA were DSWD Regional Director Grace Subong, and BJMP Regional Director JSSupt Bernardo Sanchez.
The partnership stemmed from request of BJMP RO VIII for skills training funding for the Tacloban City Jail Female Dorm on 21 November 2024. This led to an exploratory meeting on 10 December 2024, with the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program National Program Management Office to outline program interventions focusing on both livelihood opportunities and psychosocial support. 
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DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program
