SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (May 10, 2021) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office in Region III has entered into a tripartite memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health (DOH) Central Luzon Center for Health and Development (CLCHD) and the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) TB Platforms for Sustainable Direction, Care and Treatment. 

DSWD Regional Director Marites M. Maristela said the main goal of this agreement is for the three organizations to work hand-in-hand for a swift detection, care, treatment and prevention of tuberculosis (TB) cases in Central Luzon. 

She said that through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), 296,935 residents of Central Luzon will be equipped with knowledge about TB and shall receive free TB screening during regular pay-out and/or family development sessions (FDS).

Maristela pointed out that health is one of the priorities of the 4Ps program. “There is a good chance that the families we serve will slide back to poverty once their family’s health is jeopardized. This partnership will help us safeguard their health and further promote their welfare,” she said.

During the signing of the agreement, Maristela represented DPWH-III while DOH-CLCHD was represented by Regional Director Corazon I. Flores, and USAID by Dr. Marianne B. Calanan. ~