Civil society groups gather for workshop

More than 80 representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) attended the Visayas Cluster CSO consultation and workshop organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) at the Cebu Grand Hotel.

The CSOs included non-government organizations, foundations, business groups, sectoral and faith-based organizations and the academe.

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman underscored President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address wherein he recognized the role of the civil society as the main engine for national growth and development.

“Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is important in fulfilling the administration’s platform of good governance and poverty reduction,” Soliman said.

The secretary added that in line with the President’s mandate, the DSWD continues to build and sustain partnership with different CSOs which have the capacity to provide resources and could support the DSWD in the implementation of its three core poverty reduction programs, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Sustainable Livelihood Program and especially the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services.

Partnership with the civil society speeds up the delivery of social services.

At the end of the consultation, the CSO representatives were able to share their good practices.