The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has tapped the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) to support its disaster risk reduction and management and environmental programs.

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and GSP National President Dr. Salud Bagalso today (August 1, 2012) signed the memorandum of agreement that aims to encourage municipalities and barangays to organize girl scouts community-based troops that can help the government’s environmental and disaster preparedness efforts.

“We are enlisting the support and active participation of girl scouts in the government’s initiatives on disaster readiness as well as in solid waste management,” said Robredo.

The signing ceremony was held at the National Police Commission Office building in Makati City, witnessed by National Barangay Operations Office Director Virgilio Castro and GSP 1st National Vice-President Dr. Cristina Lim-Yuson.

The GSP is a national civic organization for girls and young women of the Philippines. whose mission is "to help girls and young women realize the ideals of womanhood and prepare themselves for their responsibilities in the home, and to the nation, and the world community.

Robredo said that the DILG and GSP share the same vision of promoting the best interest of girls and young women by creating an environment that will encourage them to develop their full potential.

“The DILG recognizes the importance of values formation among young Filipino women and this joint project with GSP, we hope to promote the character development of young girls aged 4-21 by mobilizing the LGUs throughout the country to organize GSP community-based troops,” he said.

Under the project, GSP shall collaborate with the DILG in the implementation of their GSP Program and make available their training centers as venue for related activities for community development.

It shall also assist in the LGU Disaster Risk Reduction and Management through an effective monitoring system.

On the other hand, the DILG is tasked to monitor the implementation of the joint project by establishing a municipal coordinator to ensure the success of the program.

“We welcome this partnership and will encourage LGUs to allocate funds for the implementation of this joint project to enhance the opportunity for GSP trained women leaders to have a share in community-building,” he said.

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