The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII inked a tripartite agreement with Mezzo Hotel and Barangay Kasambagan in Cebu City, which was held on May 16, 2023, at the Venice Hall of Mezzo Hotel.
The signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) was graced by DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero and Assistant Regional Director for Operations Juanito Cantero. Mezzo Hotel President Shannen Keisha Tan, Mezzo Hotel Manager Christine Bernardo, Kasambagan Punong Brgy. Franklyn Ong, Brgy. Kasambagan Councilor Danilo Heramis, and Brgy. Kasambagan SK Chairman Jayboy Alcaraz joined.
The partnership aims to establish an "Adopt-A-Community" project and provide a sustainable program within the community that promotes active citizenship, creates community value, and enhances the environment.
The target recipients are partner beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The partnership will ensure 4Ps partner beneficiaries will attain a level of self-sufficiency once they exit the program.
The initial focus of the partnership will be on providing commercial cooking training to selected residents of Barangay Kasambagan who are 4Ps beneficiaries. The chefs of Mezzo Hotel will personally conduct the training, ensuring that participants gain valuable skills and knowledge in the culinary arts and use these skills as they cook and sell their food as part of their livelihood.
DSWD-7 Regional Director Lucero commended the advocacy of the Mezzo Hotel by reaching out to the people who live near their hotel, especially those poor families who needed help the most.
"It is an honor to join the cause of the Mezzo Hotel, as this will serve as inspiration to other barangays and business sectors to collaborate. This will ensure that the marginalized are attended to," said Director Lucero, as she hoped that other hotels in the city will also create a similar sustainable project that will help poor families like those who belong to the 4Ps.
Speaking at the MOA signing event, Shannen Keisha Tan, the Mezzo Hotel President, expressed the hotel's aspirations: "Our goal is to create a sustainable impact on the lives of the people in the community by empowering them through livelihood programs and initiatives, beginning with commercial cooking training."
4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy of the national government. It invests in the health, nutrition, and education of poor households for improved well-being. Beneficiaries are entitled to receive cash subsidies provided that the conditions on health, nutrition, and education are followed.
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