In its continuing effort to effectively harness the convergence strategy in ensuring that the poor have access to social protection programs, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will hold the 9th Regional Directors Consultation Workshop (RDCW) on April 21-24, 2015 at Ramada Central in Binondo, Manila.

The theme of the workshop, “Getting Near, Getting There: The Convergence Benchmark in Propelling 2.3 Million Households into an improved-level of well-being by 2016,” reflects the renewed commitment of the DSWD and its partner agencies  to act on shared plans and goals to improve the lives of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries.

DSWD conducted the first RDCW in 2010 to reinforce convergence planning and identify specific areas of collaboration with partner agencies.

In recognizing the need to complement programs and strategies, DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman stated, “Our partnership with various agencies is vital in the implementation of social protection services to ensure that no household will be left behind.”

“The DSWD and its partner-agencies will continue to optimize the convergence of government programs and resources to help 2.3 million poor households move from subsistence to self-sufficiency,” Sec. Soliman added.

The event will be attended by Regional Directors from nine national government agencies, namely: Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Education (DepEd), Health (DOH), Labor and Employment (DOLE), Agriculture (DA), Agrarian Reform (DAR), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Trade and Industry (DTI), and one attached agency of DOLE – the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Pantawid Pamilya is the flagship social protection program of the government, which is being implemented by the DSWD.

The program invests in human capital through conditional cash grants that aim to keep children in school and keep them healthy.

To date, there are 4.43 million household Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries nationwide.###