DSWD partners with UN-FAO on disaster preparedness
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) have reaffirmed their strong and strategic partnership on disaster preparedness.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian met with UN-FAO Country Representative Dr. Lionel Dabbadie to discuss programs of the two agencies on disaster preparedness.
In the courtesy visit by Dr. Dabbadie, the UN official expressed FAO’s commitment to continue and strengthen the existing partnership with DSWD on the implementation of anticipatory action and shock responsive social protection to the disaster-prone areas in the country.
Dr. Dabbadie was accompanied in his courtesy visit by Assistant FAO Representative for Programs Tamara Palis-Duran and Social Policy and Program Coordinator Ruth Honculada-Georget.
In response, S Gatchalian conveyed to Dr. Dabbadie DSWD’s full support to FAO, as disaster preparedness and provision of immediate assistance to the disaster-affected families are on top of the DSWD’s major thrusts and priorities.
The DSWD and FAO signed a Cooperation Agreement in 2020 establishing the Adaptive and Shock-Responsive Social Protection (ASRSP) in the Philippines that aims to provide a framework towards the adoption of the Philippine Roadmap on Shock Responsive Social Protection, protection of livelihoods, and other potential initiatives relevant to mainstreaming of ASRSP systems and resilience building in the rural sector.
The DSWD is confident that with the strengthened partnership with FAO, more poor families and vulnerable communities will have access to social protection programs that are responsive to their holistic needs.
