DAVAO City  -With the Department of Agriculture (DA) as convenor for Davao Region, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here will participate in the ASAPP Salubungan tomorrow, May 14 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Apo View Hotel.

Anchored on the Philippine Development Plan, ASAPP or Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program intends to reduce poverty in multiple dimensions through the creation of sustainable employment opportunities for the poor.

In partnership with the private sector and the local government units (LGUs), ASAPP key elements are economic growth, employment creation, income redistribution, and strategies to maintain low food price inflation.

Through this ASAPP Salubungan, businesses are enabled to expand and increase linkages with the poor either for raw materials or labor. Hence, better employment opportunities for the poor and growth and expansion for the businesses, shared Director Priscilla N. Razon of DSWD.

In Davao Region, three areas in Davao Del Sur are being targeted for the ASAPP Salubungan –Digos City, Hagonoy and Magsaysay, said Director Razon.

Thursday’s Salubungan will be attended by Gov. Claude P. Bautista; the mayors of Digos City, Hagonoy and Magsaysay; businessmen and other private sector representatives; directors of regional and provincial government agencies such as DSWD, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Agrarian Reform.

Representing Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, Director Razon will discuss the poverty situation in the three ASAPP pilot LGUs, which will serve as input for the workshops set in the afternoon.

Other points to be tackled during the one day ASAPP Salubungan are: Rationale for ASAPP in Davao Del Sur; Messages/Commitments on Anti-Poverty and Employment Generation; ASAPP Framework and Salubungan Overview; Davao Regional Development Framework [2014-2016]; and Growth Prospects/Opportunities and Priority PAPs for the 3 Focus LGUs.

Following the open forum, the mayors of the three pilot LGUs and heads of the Private Sector will render their Responses and Commitments.

The first Salubungan in the region will then be capped with the ceremonial signing of the Pledge for ASAPP. (DSWD/Carmela C. Duron)