For the past 2 years, the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office III has been facing challenges in eradicating different forms of corruption.

One of the counter measures pioneered by SLP is to meticulously select Technological Vocational Institutions (TVI) who will serve as private partners in implementing skills training for our program beneficiaries. The process for private partnership requires assessment, validation and dialogue with Regional Director Gemma B. Gabuya. Aside from the validation process facilitated by Private Partnership Officer Mr. Ferdinand Jorge Canlas, under the leadership of Regional Program Coordinator Vencie P. Vertulfo, the TVIs must complete the documents for validation. Those who did not comply and pass in the validation will not be allowed to conduct any business on the implementation of proposed projects.

The meetings were set to tackle issues and concerns arising from the implementation phase of skills training. Another purpose is to project transparency through the standardization of fees and processes to prevent corruption to take place and fully deliver the interventions needed by our partner beneficiaries.

This initiative led to the organization of the first DSWD accredited TVIs in the country.  This can be considered as one of the region’s Good Practices. Though the department lack funds for regular meetings, such have continued with the support of the TVIs by shouldering expenses.

The DSWD FO III TVIsgroup has grown from 11 members to 28 members.

Story and Photo by: Alexine Bianca Castañeda