14/05/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ซ๐บ๐พ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ณ๐จ๐ฏ๐ฐ-๐ช๐ฐ๐ซ๐บ๐บ, ๐ผ๐ท ๐ช๐บ๐พ๐ช๐ซ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐-๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the University of the Philippines College of Social Work and Community Development (UP CSWCD) formally strengthened their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) aimed at advancing community-driven development, capacity-building, and social welfare initiatives.
The collaboration highlights the shared commitment of DSWD and UP CSWCD to promote participatory governance, empower communities, and enhance the implementation of programs that foster inclusive and sustainable development.
In his opening message, DSWD Assistant Secretary for Promotive Programs Edmon Monteverde emphasized the importance of the MOA signing, โTodayโs MOA signing reflects our common commitment to build stronger communities and create development approaches that are participatory, responsive, and grounded in the needs of the people,โ he said.
As part of the partnership pilot implementation, seven UP CSWCD students under the Field Instruction Program (FIP) are deployed in the KALAHI-CIDSS-covered municipalities to support in the program implementation while gaining practical exposure in community development work.
โWorking with communities under KALAHI-CIDSS made me realize that being a future social worker isnโt just about providing service, itโs about learning to listen, empathize and genuinely connect with people.โ, shared Aedrian Absalon, one of the UP social work student deployed in Nabua, Camarines Sur. He also expressed his reflection community participation. โDoon ko mas nakita na mas napapalakas ang boses ng komunidad kapag sila mismoโy kabahagi sa pagbuo ng proyekto na para sa kanila. Mas naintindihan ko rin na ang tunay na pagbabago ay hindi nanggaling sa iilan, kundi sa sama-samang pagkilos at pakikilahok ng buong komunidadโ, he noted.
UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II expressed gratitude to the partnership and recognize how KALAHI-CIDSS offers an important learning environment for their students โIt demonstrates how development can become more democratic, participatory and empowering when communities are treated not as passive beneficiaries but as active partners and leaders in social transformation.โ, Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II explained.
The collaboration also promotes joint learning activities, mentoring sessions, research, policy discussions, and documentation of good practices and lessons learned from field implementation. A Technical Working Group (TWG) will be established to oversee coordination, planning, and continuous program improvement.
Moreover, DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Group Pinky Romualdez expressed the departmentโs full commitment to the formalization of the partnership which will build a stronger foundation for collaboration, learning, and impact. โTogether, let us continue working hand in hand in shaping empowered communities and a new generation of development practitioners committed to public serviceโ she added.
Also present during the MOA signing are KALAHI-CIDSS National Program Manager Atty. Bernadette Mapue-Joaquin, UP CSWCD Dean Justin Francis Leon Nicolas, UP Assistant Professors Hazel Cometa-Lamberte, Ana Teresa Prondosa, and Caroline Balmes.
(kcnpmo/mjdg/jcbz/fss)
