The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Office IV-A, entered into a partnership last February 19, 2024 for the implementation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)  Asia Social Protection (ASP) CATALYZE PH in the CALABARZON Region. 

The ASP CATALYZE PH aims to promote social protection, health and wellbeing, and economic empowerment of young adult women. Among its objectives include facilitating stable employment and improving knowledge on health access and utilization, thereby helping address problems on early pregnancy and unemployment among young adults. 

In the CALABARZON Region, the program will be piloted in Naic, Cavite targeting around 300 youth-beneficiaries, particularly women. These youth beneficiaries are from active and former household-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang PIlipino Program (4Ps) who will be provided with skills training and other pre-employment activities. 

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by DSWD Field Office IV-A Regional Director Barry Chua and ASP CATALYZE PH Team Lead Maria Karla Abigail Pangilinan, both parties will spearhead the conduct of the identified upskilling and employment activities in coordination with other partner stakeholders.  These include the local government units, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Department of Labor and Employment.

The program also has a health component which will provide beneficiaries with sessions on  family planning, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health. Mentorship activities between 4PS adolescents and 4Ps young adults are also incorporated in the program.

Currently, the ASP CATALYZE PH has been conducting a series of preparatory activities such as youth focus group discussions and workshops prior to the full implementation of the said program in Naic, Cavite.#