The Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD NCR) commemorated the 10th year of implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the region with an event that showcased the stories of beneficiaries who exited or waived from the program.
The activity entitled “Toast for Success” aimed to highlight the stories of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who have waived or exited from the program after determining that they have reached self-sufficient level of well-being.
“Lubos ang kagalakan ng ahensya sapagkat makikita ang positibong resulta ng programa sa pamamagitan ng mga benepisyaryong nakatatawid sa kahirapan at napauunlad ang pamumuhay ng kanilang pamilya,” DSWD NCR Assistant Regional Director Edna J. Sacedor said.
Social Welfare and Development Indicators, a yearly monitoring of Pantawid Pamilya grantees by DSWD, assess the level of well-being of family beneficiaries-from survival, subsistence, and self-sufficiency.
According to SWDI, family beneficiaries who have attained economic sufficiency and social adequacy are considered to have reached a self-sufficient level of well-being. Economic sufficiency refers to the employable skills of members, employment and salary, source of income, membership to social security and access to financial institutions. Meanwhile, social adequacy is measured through the members’s health condition, nutrition and education, access to safe drinking water and sanitary toilet facility, house construction and ownership, and awareness of social issues.
Around 20 family-beneficiaries who have exited or waived from the program were recognized during the activity and were awarded certificates. Several former members of the program also gave testimonies about the life-changing impact of the program.
Ma. Antonieth Cipriano from Navotas City, a solo parent who was under the program for four years before exiting, shared her insight about Pantawid Pamilya.
“Ang programa pong ito ng gobyerno ay nagbibigay ng bagong buhay. Natulungan ako ng programa na maitawid ang mga anak ko mula sa kahirapan sa pamamagitan ng pag-aaral.”
With the help of the program, Mrs. Cipriano is now working as a Social Welfare Assistant in DSWD-NCR. Before becoming a member, she was unemployed and had a difficult time finding a job and providing for her children’s needs. Now, her eldest daughter finished her college education and is employed. Her second child is set to graduate Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education Major in Mathematics next year, while her youngest child is a Grade 12 student.
With the theme, “Ang Pagpapakilala at Pagkilala sa Natatanging Benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya”, the activity was also conducted in observance of the International Day for Overcoming Poverty. The celebration is in line with the program’s goal of breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. It is also consistent with DSWD’s core organizational outcome to improve the well-being of poor families.
Partner government agencies such as the Local Government Units (LGUs), Department of Health and Department of Education were part of the celebration.
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a program of the national government implemented through the DSWD in cooperation with LGUs and NGAs. The program invests in health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 18 and below. ###