MAKATI CITY, 5 March 2026 — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Singapore Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the field of social sector development.

The signing, held on Wednesday, 4 March 2026 at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City,  formalized the partnership between the DSWD and the Ministry of Social and Family Development of Singapore to exchange information and experiences in the implementation of programs on social protection, and family and child development, including developments related to the “First 1,000 Days of a Child” and child protection.

Other areas of cooperation include programs for persons with disabilities and on women’s empowerment.

Under the MOU, the two ASEAN counterparts agreed to promote institutional linkages between government agencies and organizations in their respective countries working in the fields of social development, social protection, social welfare and social work practices through exchange programmes involving public officers, including experts, researchers, and consultants, among others.

The DSWD and the Singapore Ministry of Social and Family Development also agreed to conduct institutional visits to facilities, centres and organisations in their respective countries that serve the needs of families, children and persons with disabilities to promote networking and strengthening cooperation for mutual benefit.

Part of the MOU calls for the organizing of joint activities such as workshops, projects, meetings, seminars, training programmes, and/or study visits to support human capacity building and skills enhancement in the areas of social work, programmes for persons with disabilities, women’s empowerment, and family and child development. (YADP)

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