The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office XI (DSWD FO XI) recently entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Laak, Davao de Oro, and Good Neighbors International Philippines (GNIP), a prominent non-government organization (NGO). The MoA Signing was held on May 17, 2023, at the Sangguniang Bayan Hall in Laak, Davao de Oro. DSWD Regional Director, Atty. Vanessa B. Goc-ong represented the Agency along with several Pantawid Pamilya Regional Program Management Technical Officers and Focal Persons. Also present in the said ceremony were Pantawid Provincial and Municipal Officers led by Provincial Link Ma. Salome Huelar.

Representatives from the Good Neighbors International Philippines (GNIP) were Mr. Jae Choon Lee, the Country Director, and Ms. Visitacion T. Apostol, GNIP Senior Executive Officer. LGU-Laak was represented by SB Member, Hon. Christopher L. Jovita and MSWD Officer, Mr. Roberto B. Macoto.

DSWD Field Office XI Regional Director, Atty. Vanessa B. Goc-ong and GNIP Country Director Jae Choon Lee officially sign the Memorandum of Agreement between the two offices.

The Good Neighbors (GNIP) is an international humanitarian development NGO that has been established in Korea and actively carries out professional social welfare projects and international development cooperation projects to create a world without hunger and live together in harmony. It currently operates in 40 countries around the world. The said organization creates and implements programs on education, scholarship and youth development and provides comprehensive child protection programs for children who are most vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and abuse.

In the said agreement, GNIP targets two (2) barangays in Laak Municipality, namely, Barangays Aguinaldo and Kilagding – Longanapan. Particularly, the organization aims to extend its services to the two barangays of Indigenous Peoples. The group’s special project is to integrate three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social, and environmental aspect by jointly addressing food security and climate challenges through the establishment of an enhanced Climate Smart Field School on Banana Production.

Furthermore, GNIP will fund and facilitate purchase of additional equipment and supplies needed in the Banana tissue culture laboratory. They will also fund and facilitate the construction of a greenhouse to be utilized as a banana nursery, among others.

DSWD Field Office XI Regional Director, Atty. Vanessa B. Goc-ong and GNIP Country Director Jae Choon Lee officially sign the Memorandum of Agreement between the two offices.
With finger hearts pose, DSWD Field Office XI Regional Director, Atty. Vanessa B. Goc-ong, GNIP Country Director Jae Choon Lee, Pantawid Provincial Link, Ma. Salome Huelar, and the representatives from the LGU-Laak present their signed MOA documents for official documentation.
Pantawid Pamilya Onse Regional Partnership Focal Persons, Jamicca Medrano (left) and Ana Felisa Lim (right) present during the ceremonial signing to monitor the momentous activity.
Pantawid Pamilya Municipal Operations Office representative speaks in behalf of the agency as to what the partnership with GNIP all about.

LGU-Laak, on the other hand, will subsequently provide a facility that will be utilized as a Banana tissue culture laboratory. The LGU will also take the lead in the implementation of Climate Smart Field School on Banana Production and facilitate the capacity building training for the banana farmers, among others.

This collaboration between the DSWD XI, GNIP, and LGU-Laak represents a significant effort to forge partnerships, foster collaboration, and promote convergence in the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya program in the Davao Region. Further, this development aims to strengthen these linkages, relationships, and understanding to enhance program implementation and ultimately improve the well-being of household beneficiaries. ###