LOOK | The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office XI has secured a new location for its provincial operations in partnership with the local government. On November 11, 2024, DSWD Field Office XI Regional Director Atty. Vanessa B. Goc-ong, Digos City Mayor Hon. Josef F. Cagas, RN, JD, and Davao del Sur Lone District Representative Hon. John Tracy F. Cagas signed a Deed of Usufruct, formalizing the allocation of a 406.9 square-meter property in Barangay Matti, Digos City, for the new provincial office.

This agreement allows the DSWD to occupy the space for 25 years, with an option for renewal, offering a stable and improved location to better serve Davao del Sur’s residents. The new site is intended to enhance accessibility and efficiency, reflecting DSWD Field Office XI’s commitment to provide quality service to its clients and beneficiaries.

DSWD XI Director Goc-ong expressed her gratitude for the local government’s support and affirmed the agency’s dedication to its mission: “𝙒𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝙪𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮. 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙩 𝙠𝙖𝙖𝙮𝙤 𝙨𝙖 𝙞𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖 𝙪𝙜 𝙨𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙜-𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙖 𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙗𝙙𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙜𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙠𝙖𝙨𝙮𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙖 𝙠𝙖𝙖𝙮𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙖 𝙢𝙜𝙖 𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙖 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙡 𝙎𝙪𝙧.”

The signing was witnessed by DSWD XI Legal Officer Atty. Angelli A. Guinge-Decolongon, DSWD XI Social Welfare and Development Officer Ms. Nida B. Bolilan, SLP Provincial Coordinator Mr. Arman S. Liscano, and CSWDO Digos Head Ms. Elmie Vibas.

The previous provincial office had suffered extensive damage from the 2019 earthquakes, leaving the DSWD temporarily housed in a rented space on Lim St., Digos City. This Deed of Usufruct thus marks a new chapter in DSWD and Digos City’s partnership, reinforcing their joint commitment to support and uplift the local community through strengthened social welfare services.