The Philippine Association of Social Workers Inc (PASWI) is hosting this week the 13th Euro Asia Forum focusing on poverty alleviation, children and elderly.
Eva Ponce de Leon, PASWI executive director, on Friday said that country representatives shared best practices on alleviating poverty which the Philippines may learn from and follow suit.
“By the end of the forum, we hope to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with these nations to tie up with our academes, government units, and other non-government organizations (NGO),” she said.
Russian ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev delivered the keynote address to some 130 social work advocates explaining how Russia was able to reduce its poverty rate by less than 10 percent.
“Our goal is to even reduce it to half by 2024. The most important aspect to further the cause is to always take social responsibility,” Khovaev said.
Social workers and advocates from Russia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Vietnam, and Philippines will discuss techniques on how to partner with the academe, government units, and NGOs in advancing equal opportunity for the marginalized sectors who are mostly affected by poverty.
The forum started on December 13 and is expected to conclude on the 15th held at Citystate Asturias Hotel.
