SoCot creates social protection convergence team

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – South Cotabato's provincial government has created a convergence team that would spearhead the implementation of programs for “poor, vulnerable and marginalized” residents.

Heide Agustin, acting head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), said Wednesday the move was based on Executive Order No. 5 issued by South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes.

Dubbed the “social protection team”, Agustin said it will serve as a convergence body composed of offices and agencies in the province that are providing social programs and services.

“This is aimed at ensuring a more holistic and targeted approach and avoid possible duplication of services,” she said.

Agustin said the team is tasked to determine appropriate interventions that would help uplift the living conditions of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized residents down to the grassroots level.

She said the team is currently in the process of identifying social issues at the grassroots and conducting inventories of social protection-related policies and programs at the provincial, city and municipal levels.

Agustin said they aim to face these social problems through a three-way approach set by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the “Social Protection Handbook”.

These approaches, she said, are centered on mitigating risks, responsive planning, and effective service delivery.

“Among the notable components of the process is the provision of social insurance to uplift the lives of the marginalized sector,” the official said, adding that the social insurance provision doubles as a "safety net" for the target sectors.

The convergence team is led by the governor as chairperson, and the vice governor as vice chair. The Provincial Planning and Development Office coordinator and PSWDO head were designated as lead coordinators. (FKA/PNA)