The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started formalizing its partnership with health, funeral and medical services providers in Western Visayas by signing a memorandum of agreement with 124 initial partners from Iloilo, Antique and Guimaras.

Crisis Intervention Section (CIS) head Beverly Salazar on Wednesday said that while they have been providing assistance, this time, the memorandum of agreement (MOA) stipulates the terms that concerned parties should be followed.

The agreement is good for three years.

“Region 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas) do not have MOA with their partners. For now, the directive of the secretary is to have MOA formalizing partnerships and identify the service providers that partnered with DSWD to help our clientele,” she said in an interview.

The assistance, Salazar said, is beneficial to clients because DSWD pays a portion of their bill through a guarantee letter. The payment is deposited to the account of partner providers within 60 days.

“It is not 100 percent, but some of the bills, DSWD could help them through a guarantee letter. Everything is subject to the assessment of the social worker regardless of the ceiling under the guidelines,” she added.

Salazar said the MOA signing held last week was only ceremonial, and they hoped to gather all required documents within two weeks.

The 124 partner signatories include 85 funeral service providers, 13 hospitals, nine dialysis centers, five therapy centers, three orthopedic services, five medical suppliers, and four pharmacies.

She said they will be going to the provinces of Aklan, Capiz and Negros Occidental to sign the same agreement.

Salazar said they will continue extending services to their clients even if other providers have yet to sign an agreement.

The ceremonial signing held in a hotel in Iloilo City was led by DSWD Regional Director lawyer Carmelo Nochete.

In his message, Nochete expressed gratitude to partner providers for lessening the burden of DSWD clients. (PNA)