DSWD opens Government Internship Program to 1,360 youth nationwide

Posted on 09 March 2018.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now accepting applications for the Government Internship Program (GIP), with 1,360 slots nationwide for young Filipinos 18 to 25 years old.

Interested applicants may apply at the DSWD Central Office in Batasan or at the DSWD Regional Office nearest them. Deadline of submission of applications is on March 19.

The GIP is one of the components of the Kabataan 2000 program of the national government which was developed to provide opportunities for in-school youth to have hands-on experience working in various government agencies.

For the 2018 nationwide implementation, the GIP has a fund allocation of P10,565,400 for the stipend of accepted applicants enough for 30 working days of service.

“This is an opportunity for our youth to learn life skills in the workplace, and introduce them to public service as their contribution to nation building. Through the GIP, government is able to extend them financial assistance which they can later use to cover school expenses. This is also a way to impress upon the youth the importance of earning and spending their own money wisely,” DSWD Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel Leyco said,

The program is open to individuals who are 18-25 years old, college level and high school graduates. TESDA Certificate holders or Alternative Learning System certificate holders or holders of any similar certificate issued by the Department of Education or Commission on Higher Education, members of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP), youth beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and youth included in the Listahanan identified poor family will also be prioritized.

The DSWD also considers the family income of the participating youth, which must not be more than the existing poverty threshold.

Under the GIP, DSWD will provide the qualified youth with daily stipend amounting to 75% of the regional wage rate. The GIP is implemented in the DSWD Central Office and all its Regional Offices.

The GIP will be assigned in various work stations according to their assessed skills. The work includes regular office work such as encoding, report writing and/or assisting in the implementation of key programs of DSWD such as the Supplementary Feeding Program, Social Pension Program, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and the like. (DSWD/Social Marketing Service)

Construction of classrooms for IPs pushed

Posted on 09 March 2018.

Tagum City (DSWD XI) -The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently conducted a forum on the implementation of Construction of Classrooms for Lumad (CCL) at Big 8 Hotel.

The forum aimed to discuss among stakeholders how to address issues affecting CCL implementation in identified areas.

Present were municipal engineers and accountants, barangay treasurers, representatives from National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and DSWD officials.

DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS Regional Community Development Specialist Joel B. Quiňo said the activity “is an avenue where we level off as to roles, tasks, and responsibilities of each stakeholder towards achieving the goal of improving the well-being of the intended communities through timely interventions that are within the program standards.”

Earlier evaluation pointed to problems such as proposed sites as disaster risk and not conducive for learning, while some areas have existing facilities already.

Participant-stakeholders then drew up an action plan to fast track the implementation in different municipalities.

As part of the commitment forged during the forum, they agreed to observe that DSWD and LGUs in both municipal and barangay levels will improve the partnership in terms of capacitating the communities through provision of quality and timely technical assistance along the social process of engineering and finance, and providing intensive monitoring to address the identified implementation gaps as experienced in the field.

Stakeholders also agreed to complete all sub-projects within the year.

CCL is a joint project of DSWD and Department of Education (DepED), responding to the need of learning facilities of indigenous peoples (IPs) living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).

CCL implementation will follow the community driven development (CDD) approach of Kalahi-CIDSS, as the IPs will be mobilized to be more participative and anchored on Sama-Samang Pagkilos Nang May Malasakit (collective action with compassion).

These schools, however, will be far different from the standard structural designs of existing basic education schools as these will follow the cultural preference of the tribe existing in the community.

The project will be implemented in the five provinces, in 27 municipalities and cities in the entire region.

A total of 209 classrooms have been targeted to be constructed this year with a funding of Php 137, 840, 324.00.

“As we continue to pursue our program with Sama-Samang Pagkilos nang may Malasakit”, I trust that our stakeholders will continue to be steadfast in carrying out the mandate to serve our IP brothers and sisters,” DSWD Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat urged.

Kalahi-CIDSS, one of the major programs of DSWD, uses the community driven development approach to empower local communities to undertake their own development projects by actively and directly partaking in local governance in identifying their community needs as well as taking part in implementing projects that will address these needs. (DSWD)