The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) conducted the 13th convergence caravan in Metro Manila which aimed to bring the government services closer to people on June 25, 2015 in Parañaque City.
In partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Parañaque headed by Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez, National Governments Agencies (NGAs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), a total of 1, 372 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in the said city availed the services during the activity.
DSWD-NCR Regional Director Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan in her message expressed deepest gratitude to all who took part in the conduct of the convergence caravan especially to Mayor Olivarez, who initiated the operation of the various services led by the local offices of the city administration.
The LGU’s services includes buhay caravan which is composed of free eye glasses, cataract check-up, laboratory examination, vaccine/ immunization, dental and medical, haircut, hairspa, manicure/pedicure and massage/reflexology. Other LGU services offered were mobile birth registration, issuance of IDs to PWDs, solo parent and older persons, skills demonstration on hair styling and make– up, jobs fair and scholarship.
Meanwhile, DSWD-NCR awarded capital assistance during the short program, to seven (7) associations composed of 103 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries amounting to P773,000.00 under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department.
In addition, five (5) NGAs namely Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture IV-A (DA), Commission on Population – NCR (PopCom), Department of Health (DOH) and National Food Authority (NFA), offered their services through information materials provision, seed and seedlings distribution, orientation on Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning, free HIV screening test, and selling of cheap rice, respectively, during the caravan.
There were also two (2) SEA-K associations who displayed and sold their products such as under garments other food and non-food items during the activity.
As result of the jobs fair, 61 beneficiaries were fortunately considered by employers to be hired-on-the-spot while 43 are still for final interview.
Parañaque City has a total of 8, 021 Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries who are receiving cash grants based on their compliance to the health and education conditionalities of the program. ###