WHAT IS IN A NAME? The issue of Convergence

A barangay captain from Mindanao once said to a DAR Official, “Don’t come to us and say, ‘Organize yourselves', rather you coordinate yourselves so we can feel the impact.”

There is perhaps nothing more irritating for an ordinary citizen who is asking for assistance from a government representative than to hear the official say, “That is not our concern, we are from DSWD.  That is DOH concern (or DECS’ concern).”

The question, therefore, is what is in a name.  When a DSWD representative or a DILG representative visits a community, people receive him/her as the government.  She/he expected to listen to the people and bring their concerns to the attention of appropriate agencies. She/he goes to the community with the backing and support of all the various agencies of the government so he/she can respond appropriately to the queries and concerns of the people.  And she/he should not be concerned who gets the credit for it.

This is the essence of Convergence.  We make the basic services more accessible to the people by pooling ourselves, our resources together.  We are not just DSWD.  We are no longer just DECS or DILG or DOH or DAR.  This is not the time to think limited or withdraw to our own little world or turf and do just what our agency has to do.  The time calls for a united effort because we recognize that poverty can only be addressed by a collective effort, by bringing out the spirit of bayanihan, by convergence.

(CIDSS Harvest-April 1998)

For More Information Contact:

CIDSS-CAR
40 North Drive, Baguio City
Tel: (063) 074-442-8619
FAX: (063) 074-442-7917
E-mail: [email protected]