The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office XI, through the Social Marketing Unit (SMU) of the Office of the Regional Director (ORD), held a significant partnership meeting on July 16, 2024, with Dr. Evelyn A. Magno, President of The Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC), Inc., to advance their research collaboration. This partnership aims to further the implementation of Project LAWA and its second phase, BINHI, this year.

Following the pilot phase of Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access), which was successfully implemented in 2023 across three municipalities in Davao de Oro—Monkayo, Compostela, and Laak—the project has transitioned to its second phase, BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished). In light of this progression, DSWD Field Office XI entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with RMC Davao to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the pilot implementation.

The assessment conducted by RMC Davao provided valuable insights and recommendations that have been integrated into the full-scale rollout of the program across various provinces in the region this year. Dr. Magno, represented by Atty. Ernesto Raphael V. Robillo during the MOA signing on January 10, 2023, emphasized the partnership’s potential to enhance the delivery and implementation of the programs and services outlined in the agreement.

During the partnership meeting, Ezri M. Coda Jr, Social Marketing Officer III, and Reynaldo S. Dapedran, Information Officer II of ORD-SMU, underscored the upcoming activities that will once again involve the expertise of the RMC Davao research team. The team is composed of esteemed members: Dr. Annbeth B. Calla, Dr. King Pa Top, Professor Cristina C. Ariate, and Professor Jasmin O. Mante.

This collaboration between DSWD XI and RMC Davao signifies a strong commitment to utilizing research to inform and improve social welfare initiatives, ensuring effective and impactful implementation for the benefit of the region’s communities.###(DSWD XI/RSD/EMCJr)

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