The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office III recognizes that cooperation with the Local Government Units (LGUs) is a must to expedite the delivery of social services to our local communities.

This is why the Department, led by the General Administrative Strategic Support Division, organized a week-long consultation with the LGUs to discuss the implementation and liquidation of projects and funds for the 2017 social protection projects. This activity also aims to assess the absorptive capacity of local social welfare and development offices (LSWDOs) in Region 3 and identify which social protection projects can be transferred to LGUs. The five-batch consultation started last November 15-23, 2016.

The 735 total projected participants of the event will be composed of the municipal mayor, municipal accountant, municipal treasurer, Sangguniang Bayan member on social services, and LSWDO of all local government units in Central Luzon.

Before the consultation culminates, the participants are expected to identify the reasons for non-implementation of funds, find solutions and specific commitments of LGUs to implement projects, and acquire updated information on new Commission on Audit circular, amendments on procurement laws, and checklist of needed supporting documents for the processing of disbursement vouchers. ### (Ma. Dennielle M. Lomboy)