DSWD-6 inks partnership pact with 12 coops in Antique

SAN JOSE, Antique– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI through the Regional Director Atty. Carmelo N. Nochete has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with 12 Multi-Purpose Cooperatives (MPCs) in the province of Antique during today’s simultaneous signing ceremony here.

The 12 MPCs namely Barbaza, Belison; Bugasong; Dao; Hamtic; Libertad; Magdalena; Pandan; Patnongon; San Jose; Valderrama; and Casay Credit Coop are represented by their Board of Directors, Managers, and authorized Representatives.

The MOA signing aims to give Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries wider access to financial institutions, solidify the commitment between DSWD and the Cooperatives involved by providing social protection programs, and promote the rights, and welfare of the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged individual and community.

Regional Director Nochete expresses his gratitude to the cooperatives, the Antique Provincial Government headed by Gov. Rhodora Cadiao; all Local Government Units; the 4Ps Division headed by Division Chief Belen Gebusion; 4Ps Antique Provincial Operations Office; and all the people behind this initiative. He hopes that through this partnership more 4Ps households will benefit from this and will be given more opportunities.

“This momentous event will solidify the commitment between our Department and these cooperatives to help our 4Ps beneficiaries with financial literacy, easy access to financial institutions and to address social security. This partnership aims to improve the well-being of 4Ps beneficiaries in the whole province of Antique,” said RD Nochete.

Before the MOA signing, these Multi-Purpose Cooperatives from the different municipalities in the province have been active partners of the DSWD-4Ps Division in the conduct of Family Development Sessions (FDS) particularly on the Financial Literacy topics. Aside from this, these cooperatives became program conduits during the over-the-counter mode of the payout before the 4Ps cash cards shifted into transactional accounts.

This has encouraged Provincial Link Jeffrey Gabucay of 4Ps Antique Provincial Operations Office to initiate a series of meetings and consultations with these cooperatives for possible collaboration and later encourage them to enter into a MOA with the Department to formalize this partnership.

On her part, Lany B. Emejas, Remedial Management Specialist of Barbaza MPC – San Jose branch said their presence would help 4Ps beneficiaries deal with the proper financial institutions without taking for granted their weaknesses.

“In certain situations, some 4Ps beneficiaries tend to have no options and end up dealing with loan sharks, in this way, as cooperators, we can assist and extend our help to the 4Ps beneficiaries through FDS financial literacy,” she said.

Currently, there are 4,630 4Ps beneficiaries in Antique who are active members of these cooperatives.

Meanwhile, the Department also recognizes the support extended by several members of the cooperatives who acted as Resource Persons during the conduct of regular FDS. (Written by: Antique SDA Focal Person Maybel Esparagoza)