The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) in partnership with the local government of Valenzuela City held a convergence caravan which served almost 1, 500 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries through the various services offered and delivered during the event, held recently at the Valenzuela Astrodome.
This 10th Convergence Caravan in Metro Manila includes the awarding of the following assistance to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries: 1.) capital seed fund to seven (7) SEA-K Associations with 166 beneficiaries; 2.) taho vending materials and financial assistance to ten (10) beneficiaries; and 3.) pedicabs with vegetables to ten (10) Valenzuela residents wherein five (5) of them are Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. (The items 2 and 3 are courtesy of Valenzuela Government)
The local government also showcased their barangay-based feeding program through the distribution of lunch boxes containing nutri-food to their children-beneficiaries who are in the identified poor families of Listahanan.
Meanwhile, DSWD-NCR Regional Director Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan expressed her gratitude to the warm support of the City Government of Valenzuela headed by Mayor Rexlon T. Gatchalian, in the implementation of the social protection and poverty reduction programs in the city.
As presented by Director Bonoan in front of Mayor Gatchalian, Pantawid Pamilya National Program Manager Director Rodora T. Babaran, representatives from the national government agencies, Parent Leaders, Valenzuela Department Heads and staff, DSWD staff and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya program, the city already have a total of 11, 792 registered Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who are being monitored for health and education compliance.
On the other hand, Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said in her inspirational message delivered by Director Babaran, that this convergence caravan contributes in accessing the beneficiaries in various government services that would eventually help them to uplift their level of well-being. 
Overall, most of the services were participated in/availed by the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries with the following distribution: 1,000 beneficiaries inquired in the Jobs Fair in partnership with the Valenzuela Public Employment Services Office (PESO); 50 participated in the Skills Demo on Food Carving in partnership with TESDA; 18 joined the orientation on Family Planning and availed the free provision of Implanon; 29 attended the Orientation on Domestic Workers in partnership with DOLE-NCR; 31 participated in the Orientation on Safe Drinking Water; 49 availed the free haircut; and 211 attended the orientation on Social Security System.
Also, the participants of the event enjoyed shopping at the highly discounted goods and products being sold in Diskwento Caravan in partnership with DTI-NCR and availed the distribution of vegetable seedlings, courtesy of the Department of Agriculture.
Further, since it is vacation time which indicates proliferating cases of dog bites amongst children, the Regional Office of the Department of Health (DOH) turned-over 300 vials of anti-rabies vaccines to Valenzuela City Health Office.
Signing of commitments for the “Kaya ko” campaign were also done during the caravan to enlist the support of the stakeholders, parent leaders, beneficiaries and field office staff in the coming implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya high school expansion.###
