The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here will be implementing the Immersion Outreach Program (IOP) which aims to instill a sense of volunteerism and community service to less privileged youth of the society.
In the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), there are 80 vacant slots for the said program, of which, 35 will be assigned in the regional office and 45 will be designated in the various Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Team Offices in the provinces of the region.
“We hope that through the program, the Cordillera youth will be able to realize their potentials and become responsible leaders or productive citizens of the community”, DSWD- CAR OIC- Regional Director Janet P. Armas shared.
Through the IOP, the youth participants will be given the opportunity to perform office work in support to the implementation of DSWD programs and services and service work in communities where DSWD programs or projects are implemented in partnership with the local government units (LGUs).
Specifically, the youth participants will be allowed to engage in the following activities:
- Assist in the organization of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines and conduct activities related to such;
- Assist in the implementation of retained DSWD programs and services;
- Assist in caring of clients inside DSWD residential care facilities;
- Conduct educational, recreational, social and sports activities in the residential care facilities and in the community; and
- Assist in the relief and rehabilitation activities for disaster affected families temporarily placed in evacuation centers, and resettlement areas.
“Aside from providing them life skills learning, this program will also help the youth to earn money to augment for their daily sustenance and future school needs”, Dir. Armas added.
Youth hired under the Immersion Outreach Program will stay with the Department within 30 working days and will receive a stipend amounting to 75% of the regional minimum salary which is of Php 214.00 per day.
Interested out-of-school youth who are 18- 25 years old, in good health condition with a monthly family income of not more than the existing poverty threshold of Php 8,022.00 may bring their birth certificate to the nearest DSWD Regional Office and fill-out the application form to be provided. Baguio City and Benguet applicants should report to Ms. Carmencita Chaluyen, at the DSWD Training Center, Engineer’s Hill corner Cabinet Hill, Baguio City. Applicants from the provinces should report to the nearest SWAD Team Office in their respective areas.
Queries on this matter may be directed to the DSWD-CAR through (074) 446-59-61 or e-mail at focar@dswd.gov.ph or clchaluyen@gmail.com.# DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
