DSWD, Ateneo partner for sustainable livelihood programs

Rappler.com

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The partnership aims to explore the role of the academe in the fight against poverty

MANILA, Philippines – In the first of many hopeful partnerships with the academe, DSWD has teamed up with the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) to provide financial literacy trainings for partner-beneficiaries of the department’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (PPPP).

Financial literacy is a critical component of DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). It focuses on capacity building and encourages savings and proper money management among partner-beneficiaries. This component assists poor families in managing their own enterprises and income

With the said partnership, ADMU will become a key player in SLP and will provide livelihood interventions to communities in Culiat, Escopa, Commonwealth, Old Balara, and Tandang Sora, in Quezon City, and Fortune in Marikina.

Social development efforts

AdMU has created various programs that incorporate the issues of hunger, poverty, and livelihood into their National Service Training Program (NSTP) (READ: Contractual labor: A dead end?)

Included in the updated NSTP curriculum are household modules on financial literacy taught by students from the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM). These modules, called “Wais sa Pera, Wais sa Buhay,” help beneficiaries to anticipate expenses, and save for future needs.

Since the start of the program, around 1,000 individuals have opened a BPI-Globe BanKO savings accounts with a minimal balance of P50. Opening an account serves as the culmination of the module but beneficiaries are encouraged to save resources even long after the program has ended. 

Another program, conducted by the university’s Development majors, provide pre-employment assistance to partner communities. Students guide partners through the job application process and in answering job application forms from the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The modules also include planning livelihoods based on existing interests and skills.

Eradicating poverty

PPPP focuses on the development of health and education among poor households, particularly of children 0 to 14 years old. It was created to address the first UN Millenium Development Goal (MDG)  to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. 

With the Philippines’ high unemployment rate, DSWD said education programs on financial literacy and livelihood have big roles in fighting poverty in the country.

The social welfare department added that the partnership with AdMU demonstrates the convergence effort between the public and the private sectors. DSWD plans to create more partnerships with the academe to help 4P partner-beneficiaries.–Rappler.com

 

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