THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund pushed for programs strengthening the government’s capacity to deliver effective social protection, especially for children during emergencies and disasters.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian signed a memorandum of understanding with UNICEF for an innovation that would provide social protection assistance fit for its intended beneficiaries.

“We know that every vulnerable sector has distinct needs, especially in disaster response so this is innovative, that is new. It is a template which we can adopt, cascade, and expand, and we look forward to learning from it because it is new,” Gatchalian said.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Country Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov affirmed the partnership would provide life-saving assistance to children and their families during emergencies.

The MOU will serve as a basis for both parties to implement a Standby Agreement on Emergency Cash Transfer to ensure that disaster-affected families or households and their children have access to financial aid.

The ECT is an adaptive strategy for bridging the gaps between immediate disaster relief, humanitarian response, and early recovery support through outright cash aid for disaster-affected families in areas under a state of calamity.