Schools unite to offer social work programs

Major schools in Cebu including the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, Southwestern University and St. Theresa’s College have forged partnerships to support and promote the implementation of the National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP) in the region.

NCDDP is the scale-up version of the Community-Driven Development (CDD) strategy used and proven effective by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), one of the poverty reduction programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Approved as a national program early this year by the National Economic Development Authority Board headed by the President Aquino, the NCDDP will be implemented from late 2013 to 2019, covering 900 poor municipalities in the country.

In Central Visayas, the NCDDP will cover 39 municipalities in Cebu, 44 in Bohol, 16 in Negros Oriental and five in Siquijor.

All of these areas have a poverty incidence rate greater than 26.5 percent based on the data from 2009 National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB).

As Central Visayas ranks third with the most number of municipalities covered by NCDDP, the three schools have come together to form a consortium to augment this huge scale up of CDD operations.

The consortium will offer a certificate course to college graduates of non-development work.

The course includes 54-hour lecture-discussion on social realities and development perspectives with case studies and introductions to community organizing and community development.

Students will also undergo field work and community integration in selected areas of Kalahi-CIDSS in the Central Visayas.

“We believe on the community-driven approach of the NCDDP and we want this implemented in our communities. However, in the Central Visayas, there is a dearth in the availability of social work and other development-related course graduates who can effectively perform these tasks,” said Consortium coordinator and USPF Social Work Department chairperson Rosario Sequitin.

Sequitin said that despite efforts to increase enrolment in Social Work programs offered by schools all over the country, the number of graduates from this field is still low.

The consortium is a welcome partnership for the DSWD Central Visayas office as it faces the challenge of hiring a total number of 692 staff for its NCDDP implementation, 103 of which have to start this October 2013 and the other 589 in January next year.

“The social welfare agency needs project implementers for NCDDP who have the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes in community organizing,” DSWD assistant regional director Nemia Antipala said.

For further information, one may contact Sequitin at 4148773 local 135 or (0932) 6577713.