Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)- After 100 days since her installation on 12 April 2024, Regional Director Maria “Malaya” A. Catbagan-Aplaten, PhD shared the accomplishments of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here.
In her State of the DSWD Field Office CAR Address, Director Malaya emphasized the ten-agenda roadmap that served as her guide in leading the Angels in Red Vest in the region. The agenda includes Regional Priorities, Collaborative Initiatives, Legislative Support, Budget Allocation, Disaster Preparedness and Response, Community Empowerment, Capacity Building, Monitoring and Evaluation, Data Sharing and Collaboration and Feedback Mechanisms.
The Director highlighted the continuous commitment of the FO in the compliance to the Ease of Doing Business and delivering the DSWD thrust and priorities as reflected in the Office’s Performance Contract. This includes the delivery of efficient and effective social services in the Region. She also reported the strengthened collaboration of the FO with non-government and Government institutions specifically various regional committees and legislative bodies which enabled the FO in enhancing its operations. These partnerships, according to Director Catbagan-Aplaten has resulted to pledges of support and additional assistance to the DSWD FO CAR.
In time with the Disaster Consciousness Month celebration, Director Aplaten also shared that the DSWD FO CAR continues to be at the forefront of disaster preparedness and response by ensuring that DSWD personnel are provided with capacity building activities. She took pride on the launching of the Disaster Response Operations Management Information and Communication (DROMIC) Information System (IS) 2.0 which aims to facilitate efficient data capture to be used in empirical decision-making during disaster response operations.
To empower communities, the Director proudly shared that the DSWD was able to take part in two series of Project MARTHA (Mobilizing Advocates to Reach, to Transform, and to Help All in need) which was done in Calayucay in Luna, Apayao on 1 June 2024, and Kibungan in Benguet on 13 July 2024. The said project is done in partnership with private institutions to provide services such as medical, dental, educational supplies and information campaign to those in far-flung areas.
Director Catbagan-Aplaten also emphasized the need to take care of the DSWD personnel. She shared that the DSWD FO CAR has already engaged with the National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) CAR to enhance the provision of dental care services for the Angels in Red Vest. This is on top of the capacity-building activities and the RD’s Kumustahan Sessions done to empower the personnel.
Aside from these, the Director underscored the strategies of the DSWD FO CAR in monitoring and evaluation, data sharing and collaboration, and feedback mechanisms particularly the recognition of the Field Office’s ARAMID or the Application Resource, Access, Monitoring and Information Dashboard IS as 3rd place during the 6th Annual Monitoring and Evaluation Conference of the DSWD. She was also happy to share that the FO is able to garner a 99.646% or Outstanding Client Satisfaction Measurement Rating for the 2nd quarter of 2024.
Finally, Director Catbagan-Aplaten expressed her gratitude to all the Angels in Red Vest and partners who made her 1st 100 days in service productive and successful. She further called for everyone’s continued commitment and to be guided by the DSWD acronym- dedication, service, working together, and drive for excellence.
“Thank you for your continued hard work and commitment. Let us move forward with determination, inspired by the progress we have made and be motivated by the potential that lies ahead”, Director Catbagan-Aplaten said. #DSWD FIELD OFFICE CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, NERIZZA FAYE G. VILLANUEVA-TRINIDAD
