MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region conducted its first Regional Convergence Orientation on Frontline Programs and Services with the theme, “Sama- sama sa Maagap, Mapagkalinga at Serbisyong Walang Puwang sa Katiwalian,” held at Hotel Lucky China Town, Binondo, Manila on September 20, 2019.
Said activity serves as part of the National Government’s mandate in promoting the welfare of the poor, vulnerable, and most specially the street dwellers. The activity was participated in by the DSWD CNR Regional Director Mr. Vicente Gregorio B. Tomas, Ms. Rosario C. Cuaresma, DSWD NCR Assistant Regional Director for Administration, Ms. Edna J. Sacedor, DSWD-NCR Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Metro Manila’s 17 Local Government Units, several Non-Governmental Organizations, National Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, the Private Sector, and Media Partners.
Open discussion between agencies, organizations, and clients was conducted to face the issues and gaps in implementing the programs and services for street dwellers, to identify areas of partnership and collaboration and most especially to solicit support and commitment of multi-stakeholders in carrying out any defined interventions and develop organizational inventory of strategic plan to be used as a guide in the implementation of synchronized activities with partner stakeholders of the Department.
“We are having this Convergence to help the Street Children/Dwellers because they are the future of our country, Sama-sama po tayo at alam kong we will win this fight against poverty and hunger, for a peaceful society. Maraming salamat po sa inyong pagdating at sa inyong mga tulong. Huwag po sana kayong magsawa na kami ay samahan. We need all of you for us to achieve this vision. The care, compassion and love for our fellow kababayans mean a lot to them. Maraming salamat po.” Mr. Vicente Greogio B. Tomas, DSWD NCR Regional Director, expressed in his message for the participants.
Director Tomas also discussed the baseline of families and children at risk in the National Capital Region. More so, various LGUs shared their data and baseline to assess the situations of at-risk street dwellers in the Metro, in line with the convergence’s mission to evaluate and monitor the platforms that are used or may be used for the prompt delivery of frontline services to all the clients in NCR.
Mr. Mark M.Garcia, Planning Officer IV of the Policy and Plans Division discussed the processes and protocols for the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR/Listahanan 3), while Mr. Arnel L.Baustisa, Center Head of Rehabilitation Sheltered Workshop and former Special Project Section Head, shared the protocol of the department on Reach Out Operations.
Mark Sarabe, an 18 year-old Sama Bajau Comprehensive Program beneficiary, shared his success story of being a former park attendant to becoming a Service Crew at a well-known fast food chain.
Mark took the Alternative Learning System and failed two (2) times, however, he did not see it as a failure and instead, he used it as an inspiration and took the exam for the third time. Propituously, he passed. Mark expressed his gratitude towards the program and the department for not giving up on individuals like him.
“Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa DSWD sa pagtulong sa akin kung hindi po dahil sa inyo hindi po ako mkakarating sa aking kinatatayuan ngayon, Sa mga nandito po sana po ay tulungan din ninyo ang mga kapwa ko pa Sama Bajau upang maging maayos din ang kanilang buhay kagaya ng nangyayari sa akin huwag po kayong magsawang tulungan kami, Maraming salamat po.”
One of the Department’s partner-stakeholders, Ms. Jing Castañeda of Bantay Bata 163, also expressed her utmost gratitude for the warm welcome of the Department towards Bantay Bata 163.
“Bantay Bata 163 will be partnering with NGAs and LGUs for the continuous assistance and help for the children at risk and children who are victims of abuse,” said Ms. Castañeda.
Ending the program was the ceremonial commitment signing wherein the participants offered their signatures for a promise of levelled up convergence. ###