The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have formalized a partnership aimed at strengthening environmental protection while advancing community resilience to climate and disaster risks.
The agreement, sealed through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), brings together social protection and environmental management efforts under the Panahon ng Pagkilos: Philippine Community Resilience Project (PCRP), a program designed to help vulnerable communities better withstand the impacts of climate change.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and DENR Acting Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna approved the initiative, with DSWD Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez representing Gatchalian at the signing ceremony held Tuesday at the DSWD Central Office.
The collaboration reflects a broader push by the government to align environmental protection with social development, recognizing that communities most at risk from climate change are often those with limited access to resources and support systems.
Officials said the initiative is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure that development efforts are carried out in harmony with the protection and restoration of natural resources.
Through the PCRP, the two agencies aim to strengthen local capacities in disaster preparedness, environmental stewardship, and sustainable community development, particularly in areas frequently affected by extreme weather events.
Key officials from both agencies attended the signing, including DSWD Assistant Secretary Edmon Monteverde and KALAHI-CIDSS National Program Manager Atty. Bernadette Mapue-Joaquin.
From the DENR, participants included Undersecretary for Policy Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones, Environmental Management Bureau Director Jacqueline Caancan, Biodiversity Management Bureau Director Atty. Felix Alicer, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Engr. Larry Heradez, Land Management Bureau Director Atty. Emelyne Talabis, Forest Management Bureau Director Arturo Fadriquela, and National Water Resources Board Executive Director Sevillo David Jr.
Representatives from the World Bank, including Senior Social Development Specialist Samuel Thomas Clark and Social Development Specialist Josephine Rade, also witnessed the signing, underscoring international support for the initiative.
Officials said the partnership signals a shift toward more integrated approaches in governance—where environmental sustainability and social protection are pursued together to build long-term resilience among Filipino communities.