To strengthen delivery of basic services to the urban poor
The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor has formalized last week a memorandum of agreement with the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology that would strengthen the delivery of programs benefitting urban poor communities in Mindanao.
The MOA, considered worthy of replication by other government agencies, was signed by PCUP chair Atty. Noel K. Felongco and DOSCST president Dr. Edito B. Sumile in the presence of representatives of urban poor associations from the Davao region in Mati City.
“The partnership will enable us to tap the school’s expertise in trainings and in the conduct of researches,” said Felongco.
He said the school should also be able to help PCUP fine-tune proposals and programs for urban poor communities.
Felongco said the school has also offered free use of its facilities for trainings.
Dr. Sumile said the school is obligated to help considering that the cycle of poverty can only be addressed by concerted efforts.
“We have a shared interest at sustainability and reliance of programs addressed to the grassroots,” he said “By means of developing technologies adoptable to the community’s circumstances through training, education, advocacy, research and extension, we should have been able to support the government in fostering progress and sustainable development.”
He also announced that the college has funds available for qualified beneficiaries who would want to venture into sari-sari stores or other micro-financing ventures.
The MOA was also signed by school Vice-President Roy G. Ponce and PCUP-Mindanao chief of operations Ferdinand C. Iman as witnesses.
The DOSCST is credited for collecting a considerable amount of information and primary data on the demography of Mati City and has been a lead entity in various community-based undertakings involving grassroots communities.
The PCUP on the other hand serves as a direct link of the urban poor to the government in policy formulation and in the implementation of programs addressed to their needs.
Felongco said the signing of the MOA was the culmination of shared expectations and meetings between the two entities.
He said the PCUP is “now in a confident position to deliver services needed for urban poor communities.”
Prior to the signing, Felongco and his staff paid a courtesy call on Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang who announced that the provincial government has allotted P62Million to create housing for renters and informal settlers in Mati City.
The governor said this is in addition to the purchase of 5.2 has. that the LGU would develop for housing needs of its employees, with the rest of the area to be distributed to landless residents. (JKL)
