A total of 305 employees of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region participated in the Training on Enhanced Grievance Redress System Procedural Guidelines from July 2-12, 2019 at Axiaa Hotel Project 7 Quezon City, Manila.

The said training was composed of six (6) batches which consist of Area Coordinators, Social Welfare Officers III, System Coordinators, City Links, and the Regional Staff of the Program. The roll-out training provides guidance and understanding for field staff and technical staff in handling grievance cases and utilizing the enhanced processes that will address the gaps and challenges encountered in the different levels of implementation.

Furthermore, it serves as a venue to identify and discuss areas for development on the existing processes and devise a more efficient and effective method of addressing grievances that will respond to the needs of Pantawid Pamilya Members.

Representative from National Program Management Office, Mr. Richard Abante participated on one of the sessions to provide insights on the enhanced procedural guidelines. 

Grievance Redress System is one of the core systems of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program that primarily focuses on addressing grievances, queries, and inquiries about the program.###

The goal of breaking the inter-generational cycle of poverty in the country is a long and winding road. Many would argue that education is one the causes of the poverty, that it is essential for us to achieve our goals and vision. Daniella Baluyot of Barangay San Roque, Navotas City is one of those students who value education that regardless of what she has gone through, she continues her schooling.

Daniella is the eldest among the four (4) children in Baluyot family. Her father who works as helper in a shipyard raised the family by earning 500 Pesos a day that they budget to cover their daily necessities. With the meager income along with the cash grants they are receiving from the Pantawid Pamilya, keeping the children in school is quite a challenge for the family. Regardless of the situation, they did not let the children stop from education because according to her, her parents believe that education is their key for their success. Financial problems stand as a wall on their way out of poverty. In 2017, she met her boyfriend who eventually became the father of her child. She became part of the grappling high number of teenage pregnancy cases in the country. According to the most recent National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2017) from the Department of Health (DOH), the incidence of teenage or adolescent pregnancies remains at a considerable rate. Overall, some nine percent of women from the age of 15 to 19 have already started childbearing.

She received criticisms and judgments from the people around her but she took it as a blessing instead of regret. The family is presented with another challenge and in most cases; teenage pregnancy increases the out-of-school cases due to the responsibility of raising a child. Being a teenage mother is tough according to her, the stigma attached to teenage pregnancy along with the culture of blaming pummeled her self-esteem and positive outlook in life. Adding to the stress are the mounting expenses of raising a child. Despite of the circumstances, she is one of the few teenage mothers who did not sacrifice her education. She said that, her mother constantly reminded her on the importance of education especially for the future of her growing child. She is now a Grade 11 student at San Roque National High School in Navotas City. She dreamt of becoming an accountant someday.

She shared what she has learned as a teenage mother, it is to be mindful on the consequences of your actions so as not to have regrets in the end. “Sa mga kapwa kong bata at nag-aaral, sa lahat po ng ginagawa natin dapat po laging may limitasyon kasi ang pag-aaral lang po ang tanging yaman na maibabalik natin sa ating mga magulang,” she added. She is very thankful that the Program continuously supported their family even if she is now a teenage mother. She ended with a reminder for those out-of-school children and youth that they are not yet late, that they could still finish their studies. We can only achieve our dreams if we work our way through it. ###

Rikki Mae is a 19 years old Grade 12 student at Datamex College of St. Adeline and the third child of Charito Macalalad, a solo parent. According to her, Rikki Mae is a consistent top student since grade school. She graduated with honors at Paranaque National High School in March 2017. Aside from being a performing student, she also engaged in extracurricular activities that honed her competencies such as Leadership Development Program, Journalism Summit and Spelling Bee. On March 29, 2019, she succesfully finished her Senior High and was hailed as the Top 1 among the Grade 12 students. She is definitely an epitome of a passionate student.

Rikki Mae’s family is one of the members of the Modified Conditional Cash Tranfser – Homeless Street Families. They were reached out in a public cemetery at Himlayang Palanyag, Barangay San Dionisio, Paranaque City. They became part of the Program in 2014 and received a package of Support Service Interventions such as financial assistance for 12 months house rental, cash for work, starter kit, homelife cash assistance along with the grants they are receiving. With the help of the Program, they are able to trudge up from being a homeless family, to a family with a sustained happy home. They are recommended to be mainstreamed on the Regular Conditional Cash Transfer of Pantawid Pamilya through the progressive interventions they have received.

Charito strive hard as a solo parent despite the financial difficulties they had experienced. Her children who performed well in their studies provide her the strength and motivation to surpass the predicaments that once took their hope for a better future. Rikki Mae fosters a positive outlook in life regardless of what they had gone through as a child. During home visits, the child was observed as respectful to older people. She also helps in doing the household chores and looks after her sister when her mother is not around. According to her Class Adviser, she is studious, active and obedient as a student while her friends described her as friendly and helpful. In addition, aside from Rikki Mae, John Renzo Santos, fourth child of Charito is also an honor student who graduated in the same school. He is the Top 2 in their class. Hanna Kim Santos, fifth child is the top 6 in their class.

Rikki Mae wanted to become a psychologist. She is motivated to improve her family’s living condition. Despite of the low income of the family, they were able to surpass the challenges and support the education of the children. Rikki Mae is now applying in universities to fulfill her dreams. ###

“Nagsimula ang aming gulayan dahil ito ang desire ng puso namin- ang magtanim. Ginagawa namin ito ng may pagkakaisa, pagmamahalan at pagtutulungan…” –Jenna A. Camara (President, Sanctuary Pantawid Urban Garden)

Establishing the Sanctuary Pantawid Urban Garden in Mandaluyong City was an arduous collective effort of the Pantawid Pamilya farmers, given the fact that establishing and maintaining an urban garden is quite a challenge in highly urbanized areas where space and source of water which are essential in farming are of major concerns. The difficulties did not stand as hindrance for the farmers in the strides they took while achieving their goal of establishing a garden. They firmly believe the law of nature that you will harvest what you planted thus, they planted their passion, dedication and camaraderie in their gulayan and now they are harvesting their success with abundance. Last year, they won as the Best Gulayan sa Barangay in the National Capital Region during The Regional Search for Best Gulayan sa Barangay 2018.

They started in 2012 by utilizing the available land in DSWD-NCR’s Sanctuary Center located at Mandaluyong City due to limited space in their community for urban agriculture. They were only provided ½ hectare of land for their gulayan in the said center. The Pantawid Pamilya farmers felt the scarce supply of water in the following year, some of the plants withered especially during summer. They did not give up and as a proactive response to the matter, they carry gallons of water every day to water their plants. Their act of hard work and perseverance to sustain their gulayan, have given the LGU of Mandaluyong enough reason to reward them by installing a source of water for their urban gardening in 2016. In addition, when the Center noticed the significant change in terms of cleanliness and orderliness in their premises, they granted the expansion of their urban gardening, allowing the farmers to cover more idle land in the center which has an estimated land size of more than a hectare. This allowed them to maximize the land and plant more varieties of vegetables.

The Pantawid Pamilya farmers always believe in the magic of sharing and they think that it is the key to their success. They believe that the more they give to others, the more they will receive in abundance. Eventually, they grow individually through the spirit of sharing and now, they are applying the lessons they have learned and used their group as an instrument to affect positive change not just to their fellow Pantawid Pamilya members but the whole community. They regularly conduct feeding program every Saturday morning to different evacuation centers around Mandaluyong City.  The fund they used for their initiative comes from a portion of their income in selling their harvests as well as from the donations of their friends. They cooked their harvested vegetables during the Feeding Program to serve nutritious food. They also cultivate herbal plants and provide free herbal medicines whenever someone is in need. In their account, they already provided to those indigent individuals who have Urinary Tract Infection, Cancer, Mayoma, Dengue etc. Also, they are giving a portion of their harvest once a month for the clients at the Sanctuary Center.

They have served as resource speakers during the Family Development Sessions at Barangay Zaniga, Buayang Bato, Malamig and in Addition Hills to share their good practices, techniques, strategies, experiences, and the effects of urban gardening in their lives during the celebration of 2018 Nutrition Month. It is their advocacy to establish more Gulayan sa Barangay in their locality.

In order to sustain the group and to build the culture of sharing and caring, the members on a regular basis are having their meetings and bible studies every Saturday. They have also extended their activity to other barangays namely, Brgy. Botanical, Brgy. Panatag and Brgy. Adddition Hills Blk 36 and Blk 38.

Recently, the group received a Nipa hut from their LGU where they gather for their meetings, recreations and bible studies. They no longer need to borrow the facility of the Sanctuary Center to have their regular activities. The place also serves as receiving area for their visitors. 

The once squandered idle land is now a home for nutritious vegetables. Urban gardening becomes a pleasurable activity for them as it serve not just a resting and stress relieving place, but also an entertaining place for them when they feel stressed and exhausted. The ambiance of the place provides peace of mind, it brings them closer to the nature and helps strengthen the companionship among them. ###

On June 29, 2019, the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region joined the LGBTQIA+ Community and its supporters to march in solidarity and celebrate with pride, with the aim of fighting injustices against the community. This is being done in celebration of the 25th Metro Manila Pride March 2019 with the theme, “Resist Together”, held at the Marikina Sports Center.

From 5,000 participants in 2017 to 25,000 last year, the number of participants in this year’s Pride March rose up to 77,000; making Metro Manila Pride the biggest in Southeast Asia. The event was known for providing a safe space for the LGBTQIA+, wherein love and diversity have thrived. Power hugs from moms, dads, and even straight participants were overflowing.

As part of the Department’s advocacy for equality and support to all marginalized sectors, the DSWD-NCR staff, together with the LGBTQIA+ Community, sang and chanted while raising their placards and pride flags calling for an end to discrimination, for the start of gender equality, and for resisting oppression and social injustice.

Part of the event was the lighting of the 12-meter symbolic monument which stands firm at the Cityhood Park, illuminating rainbow colors which represent the LGBTQIA+. The event was graced by the presence of Mayor Marcelino Teodoro and Vice Mayor Marion Andres of Marikina City.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa LGBTQ+ community dahil binibigyan nila ng kulay ang ating lungsod. Naipapakita natin na at the end of the day, we are all equally created. Isang malaking karangalan na dito natin ilulunsad ang ceremonial lighting of LGBTQ+ colors. At the same time, gusto natin palakasin ang ating institusyon na may malaking pagsuporta sa pagkapantay-pantay ng bawat isa,” Mayor  Teodoro said.

Despite the heavy rain, Marikina was still covered with colorful outfits, avant-garde floats, and upbeat music of the participants chanting for equality – Resisting together.

“The Church should just embrace differences, because being different doesn’t mean bad.” – Pope Francis ###