5 Davao towns present good practices at DSWD meeting

FIVE municipalities in Davao Region presented their good practices in terms of budget allocation for social and welfare services of their respective localities in a Research Forum yesterday at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.

The municipalities include Monkayo in Compostella Valley, Kiblawan and Sta. Cruz in Davao Del Sur, Braulio Dujali in Davao del Norte, and San Isidro in Davao Oriental.

Department of Social and Welfare (DSWD)-Davao policy and plans division chief Raquel Nunez said it is not about making comparisons between the municipal social services ties and the other in terms of programs and services, but rather more of educating the municipalities on the worth replicating best practices on social and welfare services.

"The purpose of the Research Forum is to show what is the result of the study on local government budget. How the LGU allocates fund allocates funds for social welfare," Nunez saud.

She added there are problems in the communities that are not properly responded and that they need such a forum in order to enrich the officials on the implementation of the projects.

Based on the presentation of the selected LGUs known for their best practices, Nunez said the priority projects are geared towards uplifting the communities, projects like basic education for kindergarten pupils, which includes health and nutritional value of their daily food intake, program for crisis, including cash assistance, medical assistance and burial assistance.

Other programs include services for persons with disabilities (PWDs), programs for senior citizens, and programs for children in conflict with law (CICL).

Nunez said these are the top five priority projects of those municipalities that have best social welfare practices, which are aimed at responding to what the communities need.

"A bigger portion of their budget goes to these," she said, adding the people whom these services are intended to be offered are what comprises the sectors who need assistance from both national and local governments.

For instance, she said devising programs that will help make productive the out-of-school youth will be of help in the development of the community, instead of just leaving them indolent.

"These are investments on human capital. When you invest on human capital, you will have better constituents, Nunez said, quoting Sta. Cruz Mayor Joel Ray Loez. (Antonio L. Colina IV)