BAYBAY CITY– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office and Visayas State University (VSU) based this city have partnered to boost the implementation of the government’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in Eastern Visayas through a formal memorandum of agreement.
The agreement seeks to enhance capacity-building and livelihood development initiatives for SLP beneficiaries by tapping the technical expertise and academic resources of VSU.
DSWD-8 Regional Director Grace Subong said the partnership is crucial in strengthening program delivery, noting that collaboration with academic institutions helps fill gaps in technical support.
“We cannot implement a program alone. We need partners,” Subong said, adding that VSU was chosen for its strong research and extension capabilities.
The partnership also aims to support education, health-related initiatives, and micro-enterprise development to help beneficiaries become more active participants in the local economy.
DSWD said the collaboration is expected to improve service delivery and expand opportunities for SLP participants through strengthened institutional support and technical assistance.
Present during the signing were VSU President Prose Ivy Yepes, Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovation Santiago Peña, Extension Director Catherine Arradanza, and SLP officials from DSWD.
(RONALD O. REYES)
