The Kalinga State University, represented by the University Placent Officer and Guidance Councilor, Ms. Lovelia Iringan and the Director for Gender and Development, Ms. Irene Daguasi, together with other private and public Higher Education Institution in Cordillera Administrative Region, entered into a new agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office, CAR as collaborating partners for recruitment, selection and placement as well as student internship on August 27, 2024 at the DSWD FO CAR Training Center, Baguio City.

The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the regional director of DSWD FO CAR, Dr. Maria A. Catbagan- Aplaten, and the heads and representatives of the seven (7) participating HEIs in the region.

The MOU aims to establish strong partnership and network linkages of the DSWD FO CAR and the private and public HEIs in the region and to become workforce development partners in view of the expansion of the DSWD FO CAR’s recruitment plan to entice diverse and significant pool of potential and qualified applicants to become part of its human resource. Also included in the MOU are stipulations of the shared roles and responsibilities of the DSWD and the HEIs in providing meaningful internship experiences to students, ensuring that the experiences and activities provided will contribute to their academic development and preparing them for future careers in the field of social work and community service.

During the ceremonial signing of the MOU, the agency’s Human Resource Planning and Performance Section headed by Ronilo R. Flores, discussed the summary of points specified in the MOU as well as the accomplishments of the agency in terms of student internship and student interns bridging programs.