Thursday, August 4, 2011

PSWDO maps out convergence strategy initiatives to fight poverty

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, AUGUST 3 (PIA)...."Convergence strategy as  by word  for development has been started by several national government line agencies (NGAs). Now, it serves as a positive  way to address poverty in the countryside", Myra P. Relativo, assistant provincial government head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) expressed during an interview with the Philippine Information Agency office here.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of  Agriculture (DA) were the three NGAs who used convergence as a banner mechanism for harmonizing actions  and logistics, a unifying consultative process to address issues and concerns in government, specially poverty reduction.

According to Relativo, in the same premise the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWDO) issued a new directive to implement the same strategy as a tool or mechanism of the PSWDO to harmonize the different poverty alleviation programs of the department.

In the directive issued to the PSWDO offices, Relativo explained that the three banner programs being implemented by DSWDO like the Kalahi CIDSS, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program 4Ps) and Self Employment Assistnce-Kaunlaran  (SEA-K) will be converged into one three-leg convergence program to effectively maximize the government resources  and efforts and finally come up with a more specific road map for development as the basic DSWDO program implementating guideline.

She said that , DSWDO Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman initiated this program to unify all programs of the DSWDO into one solid action for sustainable development mechanism and one strong transformative and participatory  action policy of the agency.

"Here at the PSWDO, with our provincial department head, Sonia Garcia-Mirasol, we have made some consultative assessment of the different action strategy plans of the different programs and solidify these three into one enabling self-identity program of PSWDO.', Relativo further explained.

"Synchronization of these three programs of the DSWDO to map out an action for implementation has been  now worked out and in the process  of collating for implementation here in the province'  she said..

The DSWDO directive super imposes the convergence strategy as their tangible mechanism to impact on poverty reduction solution.

As formulated, it will attempt to (a) maximize resources allocated for social protection programs; (b) reduce duplication efforts, strategies and activities at all levels; (c) harmonize and synchronize the processes involved in the implementation of the programs; (d) unify mechanisms for feedback reporting, monitoring and documentation; (e) enhance partnership with the non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private organizations (POs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSos); and (f) enhance knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards collaborative action among stakeholders.

Convergence as a mechanism will ensure that the three core social protection programs of the DSWDO will be coordinated, harmonized and synchronized while maintaining the optimal and effective implementation of each.

"The PSWDO here have come up with the provincial action plan on the implementation of the convergence strategy to implement the three core programs" she further explained. .

As reported by PSWDO here  this strategy is now pilot tested in 289 municipalities, 53 provinces and 17 regions ( including ARMM) in Set 1 and 2 areas of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, that includes the  province of Sorsogon.. (PIA-SORSOGON)

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