Cordillera Administrative Region- Member agencies of the Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC)recently visited the municipality of Tinglayan, Kalinga as part of the initiative to alleviate poverty in poor municipalities.
Last August 12-13, members of the RSDC, a sub-committee of the Regional Development Council (RSDC), conducted a meeting together with the local government unit representatives from Malibcong, Abra, Banaue, Ifugao, and the host municipality Tinglayan.
This is the second time that regional line agency representatives went on field after Kibungan, in Benguet Province last month. These municipalities are part of the identified convergence areas in the Cordillera together with Kabugao in Apayao Province and Paracelis in Mt. Province.
The field visit served as a consultation and dialogue between the regional line agencies headed by the RSDC Chairperson and DSWD Director Janet P. Armas and the local government units represented by Tinglayan Mayor Johny Maymaya, Banaue Mayor Jerry Dalipog , and Malibcong Mayor Benito Bacuyag. Aside from the local chief executives, the school principals, barangay captains, and other members of the community also participated in the activity.
During the interaction, the local chief executives presented the current situations of their communities to the regional and provincial counterparts. The unmet needs of these municipalities were presented as well.
The regional line agencies and the provincial government of Kalinga, as a response, also presented their ongoing projects and services to acquaint the constituents of the services that they can avail.
Some of the partner agencies have already committed to assist the local government units in answering their needs through funding and technical assistance.
Member agencies of the social development cluster of the RDC that were present during the activity were: DSWD, DOH, NEDA, DepEd, CHEd, DAR, DOST, DOLE, Philhealth, DILG, TESDA, DTI, and DENR-EMB.
Aside from the RSDC, the Regional Advisory Committee meeting for the DSWD’s core programs was also conducted in the two-day event. Updates from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) Project, and Sustainable Livelihood Program were shared and discussed during the meeting. Afterwards, a field visit to education and health facilities, and bottom-up budgeting project was conducted.# DSWD-CAR/ John Eric B. Escalante