“Nakikiala
m na kami ngayon sa mga kapit-bahay naming may problema dahil alam na namin ang tungkol sa mga batas patungkol sa karapatan ng kababaihan, bata at PWDs na tinatalakay sa aming Family Development Session (FDS),” said Verdeflor J. Oconer, Pantawid Pamilya Parent Leader from Pasig City.
During the conduct of the 5th Inter-city Learning Visits of beneficiaries, Verdeflor or mostly known in their area as “Joey,” confidently shared to her fellow PLs from the cities of Pasig and Las Piñas on how the Pantawid Pamilya program positively transformed her and her family.
Verdeflor also confirmed that CCT does not develop a sense of dependency among its beneficiaries as it served as a bridge for her family to avail a Self-Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran (SEA-K) capital assistance under the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
“Proud din ako na dati kaming nakikitira sa biyenan ko pero ngayon ay nakabukod na kami dahil na rin sa tulong ng puhunang nakuha namin sa SLP na kasalukuyan kong ginagamit sa direct selling ng ibat-ibang produkto,” Verdeflor added.
Verdeflor is also among the PLs who are expressively wishing for the CCT to be continued by next the administration and be institutionalized as well.
“Malaking tulong ang Pantawid Pamilya sa aking pamilya maging sa kapwa ko benepisyaryo nito kung kaya’t bilang PL, hinihiling namin na sana ay maisabatas na ito at maipagpatuloy ng susunod na administrasyong mamumuno sa ating bansa,” she enthused.
Held at the DepED Division office in Pasig City, the intercity learning visit enabled the beneficiaries from different LGUs to interact with each other and share their respective good practices being implemented in their community.
As of August 31, 2015, Metro Manila has a total of 228, 945 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who are receiving their cash grants based on their compliance to the health and education conditionalities of the program.
Meanwhile, FDS is among the significant variables under the health conditionality of the program thus, it affects the amount of cash grants to be received by the beneficiaries. ###