The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD FO CAR) has formalized its partnership with three new Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to help in the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the region. 

Through a ceremonial signing held on 15 January 2024 at the DSWD FO CAR Training Center, the Benguet State University Community Multipurpose Cooperative (BSUCMPC), Heartland Bible Believing Baptist Church, and Avon Cosmetics, Inc. have sealed the agreement to share resources and expertise, and to conduct activities with the DSWD FO CAR to help the 4Ps beneficiaries improve their quality of life. 

“This new partnership is a beginning of a more inclusive development to promote the welfare of our 4Ps beneficiaries. We recognize the efforts of our partners and staff in making this partnership possible,” said DSWD CAR Concurrent OIC Regional Director and Assistant RD for Operations Enrique H. Gascon Jr. 

Under the MOA, the BSUCMPC and the Heartland Bible Believing Baptist Church will engage with the DSWD CAR under the Kaagapay (co-implementer) and Gabay (mentor) partnership frameworks. Avon Cosmetics, Inc., committed to engage under the Gabay framework. 

Under the Kaagapay framework, the CSO partners and DSWD will conduct or implement anti-poverty projects for the 4Ps beneficiaries. The Gabay, on the other hand, aims to share technical expertise and resources to enhance the capacities of beneficiaries, partners, and DSWD personnel. 

Some of the planned activities stipulated in the said partnership frameworks include: facilitators and resource persons during monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS), coaching and mentoring of 4Ps Parent Leaders, assistance in the improvement of training/learning materials various activities, and provision of livelihood programs and referral systems for employment opportunities, and referral to other social protection programs and services. 

Meanwhile, the DSWD FO CAR also engage with other CSOs under the other two partnership frameworks such as: Tulay (link) which seeks to facilitate action, feedback, and monitoring of a specific program and area of implementation using the partners as facilitators or link; and Bantay (Watchdog) which seeks to implement projects and activities that gear towards fighting or preventing corruption.

The DSWD has been partnering with CSOs, non-government organization, and people’s organizations to aid in the implementation of 4Ps through the monthly FDS and implementation of communal gardens, among other complementation initiatives to support social protection program and services. 

As of 31 December 2023, there are 35 active CSO partners of DSWD-CAR in the region conducting activities under the Kaagapay, Gabay, Tulay, and Bantay partnership frameworks. ### DSWD-CAR Social Marketing Unit – Marlo C. Abyado, Jr., 4Ps Information Officer