The Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) commemorated its 54th founding anniversary on August 10, 2018.

The program with the theme, “Pagkalinga at Pag-aruga Ng May Malasakit at Pagmamahal Sa Mga Bata” was held at the center’s multi-purpose hall.

Social Welfare Officer IV Glenda M. Derla, the concurrent head of the RSCC, acknowledged and welcomed the guests at the start of the event.

DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson lauded the center’s notable achievements in his opening remarks. He said that the Department is currently improving its centers and institutions in the region, including RSCC’s facilities.

Mr. Leyson added that the Department is also increasing the center’s workforce  in order to provide better services to the residents of RSCC.

One of the highlights of the celebration was the inspirational messages from previous residents of RSCC.  Partners, donors, and private institutions were also recognized during the celebration for their continuous support of RSCC’s activities and initiatives.

Employees and residents of RSCC showcased their talent through dance and song numbers during the program which were in line with the celebration’s pista ng nayon theme.

RSCC is a center of the DSWD that provides protection, treatment, rehabilitation and eventual placement to children 0-6 years old who were neglected, abandoned, exploited, and abused.  At present, the center has 100 children under its care. ###

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) launched the second round of Kalinga Caravan at the Patricia Sports Complex of Brgy. 177, Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila on August 6, 2018.

The “Kalinga Caravan” is an information caravan that aims to orient constituents of an identified Barangay of the programs and services of the DSWD.

Francisco M. Domagoso, the DSWD Undersecretary for Luzon Affairs and Special Concerns, gave a short inspirational message for the residents attending the caravan. DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson was also present during the event.

Mr. Edwin S. Morata, the Officer in Charge of the DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Unit, gave a brief orientation on the types of assistance that the Department provides through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. The program offers burial, educational, medical, and Balik-Probinsya assistance.

The Regional Social Pension program, which provides indigent senior citizens with additional stipend to augment their daily subsistence and other needs, was also presented during the caravan.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare Officer III Ms. Marlene Guzman gave an orientation on the Lingap at Gabay Para sa May Sakit (LinGaP sa Masa), a program  which aims to help indigent Filipinos have access to free medical services.

Around 750 constituents of Barangay 177 received onsite assesment for assistance and for potential Social Pension beneficiaries during the caravan. Out of the attendees, about 250 were assessed for Social Pension beneficiaries, while around 500 were evaluated for the AICS program.

The DSWD-NCR is planning to conduct more Kalinga Caravans for the remainder of the year. ###

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), formalizing partnership for the use of Listahanan 2 Database to identify students who belong to the poor households and who may be eligible for the Tertiary Education Subsidy held on July 11, 2018 at EAC Boardroom.

“Being the first school which partnered with the Field Office, the establishment of the partnership is considered a major breakthrough,” Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson said.

On the other hand, EAC President Dr. Jose Paulo E. Campos gratefully stated that, “Education is a very important component for the children’s future especially for the least advantaged. With the help of DSWD NCR, we can identify students who are really in need of support to continue their studies which will be their gateway to success to uplift the conditions of their families.”

Further, Regional Director Leyson assured that the information in the database is complete and accurate which will be of great help to EAC to identify deserving students for scholarship.

DSWD NCR through the National Household Targeting Unit continuously creates data sharing partnership with different institutions in order for the identified poor households to have opportunities to access social protection programs and services from private and public entities.

Listahanan is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in the country. ###

Screen grab from the viral video posted in Facebook by Mr. Jasper Pascual

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) takes action on the viral video of a 2-year-old boy left inside a heavily tinted car by his parents at a parking lot located at Metrowalk Comercial Complex in Pasig City.

As seen in a video posted on Facebook by a concerned citizen named, Mr. Jasper Pascual on July 8, the young boy cries for help to get out as he knocks on the windows of a Toyota vehicle. This incident happened at around 11 PM. Alarmed by what he saw, Mr. Pascual immediately asked the help of Mr. Michael Villanueva, the security guard on duty at that time. It took them some more minutes to locate the parents of the 2 y/o boy.

Mr. Nilo M. Salgarino, Social Welfare Officer II along with Ms. Gracille Anne Tarroquin and Ms. Beverly Grace Bergonia, Information Officers from DSWD-NCR’s  Reach Out Team visited the area earlier today to verify the incident and check the situation of the child. According to the General Manager of Metrowalk, Atty. Virgilio Publico, the parents of the child are current tenants in the food park located at the area.  In addition, Mr. Villanueva narrated that it took him twice to approach the parents before they came to rescue the boy. “Kung hindi pa namin sinabi ni Sir Jasper na  babasagin namin ang windshield ng sasakyan, hindi pa nila pupuntahan yung anak nila,” he narrated.

The team went to the family’s residence to get their side of the story however; no one’s answering their phone calls. This case will be endorsed to the Community Based Services Section (CBSS) for the provision of social protection to the child. The Department will continue to monitor this case and ensure to provide the right intervention for the child’s welfare.

#DSWDMayMalasakit #DSWDParaSaNakararami

DSWD workers assist the residents of Barangay 105, Tondo in the mobile help desk for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS)

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) conducted the Kalinga Caravan on July 3, 2018 at the covered courts of Barangay 105, Tondo, Manila.

DSWD staff presented the various programs and services to the barangay’s residents. Mr. Jeremiah Farol, Officer in Charge of DSWD-NCR’s Protective Service Program gave a short orientation on the various assistance that the Department provides through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Program. On the other hand, Ms. Marlene Guzman, Social Welfare officer III, discussed Lingap sa Masa – a program which gives indigent Filipinos access to free medical services to partners with hospitals.

Another program that was introduced during the caravan is the Regional Social Pension Program, which provides indigent senior citizens with additional stipend to augment their daily subsistence and other needs.

DSWD-NCR Regional Director, Vincent Andrew T. Leyson, gave the opening remarks during the event. “The Kalinga Caravan is part of the Department’s thrust to provide its programs and services to the poor, the vulnerable and the disadvantaged in an easily accessible manner,” he said.

DSWD Undersecretary for Luzon Affairs and Special Concerns, Francisco M. Domagoso is also present in the said activity and  showed his support by giving a short inspirational message for the residents.

The Kalinga Caravan has served around 450 residents of Barangay 105 with the onsite assessment for assistance and almost 200 senior citizens for possible inclusion to the Social Pension Program. Conduct of series of Kalinga Caravans is planned for the rest of the year.

L-R: Gng. Veronica Palenda mula sa Bagong Silangan Quezon City, kasama ng dalawang Community Organizers ng Pantawid Pamily

Ang kwentong ito ay hango sa totoong hamon ng buhay at kung paano nagsumikap at nakipaglaban sa bawat suliranin na kinakaharap. At kung paano naging daan ang programa upang ang kaniyang pamilya ay magkaroon ng maayos na pamumuhay.

 Si Ginang Veronica Palendas ay isang mabuting may bahay ni Ginoong Luis Palendas na binayayaan ng tatlong anak na sina Hannah Grace, labing walong taong gulang na nasa unang taon ng kolehiyo; Lloyd Van, labing anim na taong gulang na nasa unang taon ng Senior High School at si Luis Jr., sampung taong gulang na nasa ika-limang baiting sa elementarya. Si Ginang Veronica ay ang siayng taga-pangalaga sa kaniyang mga anak at ang asawa nito ang siyang taga pagtaguyod ng kanilang pamilya upang matustusan ang gastusin sa pang araw-araw. Bago pa man dumating sa buhay ng pamilya ang Programa ng Pantawid ay lubos na nakararanas ng hirap sa buhay ang pamilyang Palendas. Isa na rito ang pagkakaroon ng hindi wastong pamamahay dahil gawa lamang ito sa kawayan at kahoy na kung saan ay malapit sa ilog sa Damayang Lagi Quezon City. Ayon kay Ginang Palendas, ang sahod ng kaniyang asawa ay hindi sapat sa pangangailangan ng kaniyang mga anak lalong lalo na sa mga pag aaral ng mga ito.

Taong dalawang libo’t siyam nang dumating ang bagyong Ondoy sa lugar nila Ginang Palendas. Ayon sa kaniya, lubos ang kanyang pangangamba dahil bukod sa nasira ng bagyo ang kanilang tahanan ay muntik ng mapahamak ang kanilang mga buhay sapagkat inabot ang kanilang bahay ng baha at tanging ang mga bubong ng mga bahay ang kanilang naging tulay upang makalabas sa kanilang lugar. Lubos na nahirapan ang pamilya sapagkat walang itinira ang unos sa kanilang mga kagamitan.

Nalaman lang ni Ginang Veronica na sila ay kabilang sa listahan na magiging benepisyaryo sa tulong ng kaniyang mga kapitbahay. Taong dalawang libo’t labing isa ng maging miyembro sila Ginang Veronica sa Pantawid Pamilya ng Pilipino Program. Ayon sa kanya sa tulong ng Programa sa pamamagitan ng Family Development Session, natuto siya ng mga iba’t ibang kaalaman katulad na lang karapatan ng mga bata.  Nabanggit niya na, “Natutunan ko na ang mga bata ay may Sampung karapatan at isa na roon ay magkaroon ng maayos na tahanan.” Bukod dito ay naging motibasyon din ng kanyang mga anak ang pagpasok sa eskwelehan dahil sinusugurado ni Ginang Veronica na napupunta sa pag-aaral ng kaniyang mga anak ang pera. Sakatunayan, tinatanaw niyang malaking biyaya Honor Students ang kanyang mga anak. Sa kabila ng mga pinagdaan sa buhay ng pamilya ay patuloy na pinagbubuti upang pangarap na makatapos at maitawid ang pamilya sa kahirapan ay makamit.

Ayon kay Ginang Veronica, nagkaroon sila ng pagkakataon makapag-ipon ng dahil sa programa sapagka’t hindi nila nagagalaw ang bonus ng asawa na si Ginoong Luis. Bukod dito, labis niyang ipinagmamalaki na silang dalawang mag-asawa ay walang anumang kahit anong bisyo na sa tingin niya ay lubos na nakatulong upang silang dalawa ay parisan ng kanilang mga anak.

Nang mawala sa programa, dahil rin sa kakayahan maitaguyod and pamilya, ang pamilya ni Ginang Veronica ay nanatiling mataas ang pangarap sa buhay ng Pamilya Palenda. Patuloy ang pagtutulungan ng mag-asawa at nakapag pagawa sila ng bahay na sementado. Bukod pa rito, nakabili ng rights at nakapag-patayo ng kanilang sariling paupahan. Ayon kay Ginang Veronica, malaki ang naitulong ng programa sa kanilang pamilya lalo sa pangangailangan ng kanilang mga anak sa edukasyon. Nakakabawas ito ng gastusin at natulungan sila na makapag-ipon. Mas lalo silang naging disiplinado sa paggamit ng pera dahil alam at naranasan nila ang hirap ng buhay. Dagdag pa ng Ginang, hindi niya masasabing may kaya na sila dahil kailangan parin ng tulong ng mga anak nila. Ngunit ngayon, taas-noo na niyang nasasabi na kaya na nilang pagtulungan na mag-asawa na makapagtapos ang kanilang mga anak.

Ito ay kwento ng buhay ng isang naging miyembro na sa kabila ng kahirapang nararanasan bagkus nakipag laban sa hamon ng buhay at patuloy na nangarap upang maibigay ang maayos na pamumuhay para sa kanilang mga anak.

Ipinapakita ni Ate Joey and iba’t-ibang disenyo ng kanyang mga cakes

Patuloy ang ng mga matamis na tagumpay ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Isang pamilya na naman ang nabago ang buhay sa tulong ng ating programa. Isang pamilya muli ang nagtaas ng bandila ng mga pamilyang naka-ahon sa kahirapan sa tulong ng Maagap at Mapagkalingang serbisyo ng Kagawaran ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad.

Isa ang pamilya Oconer sa matamis na ibinunga ng Programang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino. Naging sikreto ni Verdaflor Oconer o mas kilala sa tawag na “Ate Joey”, ang sipag at tiyaga upang umunlad ang kanilang buhay.

“… kami noon”

Isang simpleng maybahay noon si Ate Joey Oconer. Taong 2009, nakikitira sa bahay ng kanyang biyenan, sina Ate Joey, ang asawang si Ronaldo at dalawang anak na sina, Lorenz at Arjay. Gawa sa pinagtagpi- tagping kahoy ang kanilang kwarto na ayon kay Ate Joey, “kapag tumapak ka eh, lulusot ang paa kaya dapat maingat ka sa paglalakad”. Madalas na nasa bahay lamang siya at nagaalaga sa kanyang mga anak na noon ay maliit pa. Samantala, mekaniko naman ang kanyang kabiyak na si G. Rolando sa Kawasaki Motors. Masasabing payak lamang ang kanilang pamumuhay noon. Makaraan ang isang taon, mayroong mga dumalaw sa kanilang lugar at nakapanayam si Ate Joey ng mga kinatawan mula sa ahensya. Kwento niya, sinabihan niya ang mga nag-iinterbyu na ang hipag niya ang kausapin dahil tingin niya ay mas kailangan ito ng kanyang hipag. Nagsisimula pa lang noon ang kanyang asawa sa trabaho kung saan nagkukumpuni ito ng mga motor. Siya lamang rin ang bumubuhay, hindi lamang sa kanyang pamilya, kundi pati sa kanyang extended family. Walang ideya si Ate Joey na ang panayam palang iyon ay para sa posibleng inklusyon sa programang Pantawid Pamilya. Itinuturing ni Ate Joey na isang biyaya mula sa Diyos ang pagkakatanggap sa kanilang pamilya bilang miyembro ng Pantawid Pamilya.

“…hanggang sa naging Parent Leader na ako”

Kabilang si Ate Joey sa mga pinaka-unang naging miyembro ng Pantawid Pamilya na sa katunayan, siya ay bahagi ng Set 1. Nasabi sa kanila na kailangan nilang dumalo sa DSWD at pinapapunta sila sa basketball court. Hudyat na pala ito ng kanilang pagiging  miyembro ng programa. Sabi ni Ate Joey, “ wala pang mga lider lider noon at wala rin akong alam doon”. Hanggang isa nga  siya sa mga napiling maging  Parent Leader. Sabi pa niya, “ O sige, e di okay lang. Hanggang sa naging Parent Leader ako.” Nasa elementarya noon ang kanyang dalawang anak na siyang minonitor. Nagkaroon na rin sila ng FDS at pumupunta na rin sila sa health center. Pinaliwanag din sa kanila noon sa FDS ang mga tungkol sa kondisyonales ng programa.

“Ang dami kong natutunan sa FDS na hindi ko alam na existing pala… VAWC Law, HIV- Aids… “, ilan lamang ito sa mga kaalamang napalawak pa sa pamamagitan ng Family Development Session na ibinibigay ng programa. Dagdag pa ni Ate Joey, “akala ko lawyer lang pwedeng makaalam ng mga batas batas, pati pala kami pwede.”

Bukod sa mga magagandang dulot ng FDS para sa pamilya ni Ate Joey, malaking tulong rin ang cash grant na kanyang natatanggap. Ginagamit niya ang mga natatanggap na grant upang ipambili ng mga gamit ng sa eskwelahan, pambaon at panggawa ng mga proyekto ng kanyang mga anak.

Natulungan din ng programa na maisakatuparan ang pangarap ni Ate Joey na makapag-aral. Nakapag-aral siya ng libre at nakatapos ng kursong Cookery sa TESDA noong taong 2013. Hindi pa siya huminto rito. Dahil sa kagustuhang mapalawak pa ang kaalaman at imbis na matambak ang uniform na ginamit sa cookery, nag aral siyang muli sa TESDA ng Baking and Pastry.  Sabi ni Ate Joey, “… parang may kulang, palagay ko forte ko ang baking kasi mahilig ako [magdesign ng cake]… cute na cute ako sa mga cake”. Sa kanyang pagtitiyaga, taong 2015 ay natapos niya ang Baking and Pastry. “ Nagbabake na po ako, ayan po makikita niyo ang mga baking pans ko…” sabay turo ni Ate Joey sa mga gamit niya upang mag-bake. Sa tulong ng mga referral mula sa mga kaibigan at kakilala, unti- unting dumami ang kanyang mga customer. “Ang laking tulong sa akin kapag may order akong cake”, dagdag pa niya. Ipinakita niya rin ang iba’t ibang mga cakes na kanya ng nagawa.

Nakatanggap rin ang pamilya ni Ate Joey ng parangal mula sa programa, noong nakaraang taon ay isa sa mga “Huwarang Pamilya” sina Ate Joey. Kwento ni Ate Joey, mahigpit daw ang laban sa magiging Huwarang Pamilya at mapalad silang nanalo ng ikatlong pwesto.

L-R: Si Ate Verdeflor “Joey” Oconer kasama ang mga Community Organizers na sina Paulo Dominic Punzalan at Rovheen Conrad Bandola

Pagbabago sa Buhay

Matapos maging “ Huwarang Pamilya” sina Ate Joey, Oktubre ng nakaraang taon, nagdesisyon siyang magwaive  na sa programa. Naibahagi niya sa amin na sa tingin niya ay kaya na nilang tustusan ang pang araw-araw na kagastusan kaya siya nagdesisyon na kusa ng mag waive.  Sa mga salita ni Ate Joey, “ kaya na namin eh [kaya kami ako nagwaive]”. Napromote na din kasi ang kanyang asawa nung mga panahong yun at pati siya ay kumikita na mula sa paggawa ng mga pastries. Nakabili rin sila ng sariling sasakyan at nakapag patayo ng bahay. “…natulungan na kaming [ng programa] na tumayo sa sarili naming, maraming salamat sa pagtulong… I am very grateful and it is time..”, dagdag pa ni Ate Joey.

Lubos-lubos ang  mga pagbabagong natamasa ni Ate Joey at ng kanyang Pamilya matapos maging bahagi ng programa. “Marami… maraming nabago sa akin, dati kasi sa bahay lang ako. Ngayon na-explore ko na pwede pala akong maging lider and I have the ability to speak to people… na-develop ako…”pagbabahagi ni Ate Joey.

“Maganda ang naidulot sakin ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Progam kasi dito ako nag-grow.” buong pagmamalaking sabi ni Ate Joey.

Sa ngayon, patuloy pa rin ang paggawa ni Ate Joey ng mga masasarap at magagandang mga cakes at pastries. Parami na rin ng parami ang kanyang mga costumers. Malapit na rin magretiro ang kanyang asawa. Dagdag pa ni Ate Joey, hindi lang ang pamilya niya ang natulungan niya noong naging bahagi siya ng programa, kahit papaano ay nakakatulong siya sa kanyang ibang pamilya.

Patuloy ang Pangarap

 Dahil sa unti – unti na niyang natutupad ang mga pangarap niya para sa sarili at pamilya, gusto niya na mabigyan naman ang kanyang ibang pamilya ng pagkakataon na makaahon sa hirap. Gusto niyang matulungan ang mga kapatid ng kanyang asawa. Samantala, pangarap niya sa kanyang mga anak na balang araw, magkatapos ang mga ito sa pag- aaral at magkaroon ng sariling pamilya. Pangarap din ni Ate Joey na makapaglibot sa ibang bansa. Nabanggit na niya sa amin na mayroon na siyang ipon at malapit na niya itong matupad.

Nagbigay din si Ate Joey ng ilang mga payo na maari nating magamit lahat. Sabi niya, “ Ang pag- asenso ay nasa tao, wala kung kanino… it is up to you para i-build ang buhay mo…. kailangan masipag at masikap ka”. Tunay na nagbibigay inspirasyon ang kwento ng pagsisikap ni Ate Joey. Tunay nga na ang pagsisikap ay nasa kamay mo!

From L-R: Pantawid Community Organizer, Ms. Remely Barros; Aling Nancy; and Pantawid City Link, Ms. Mildred Campued

Nancy Alberca, 51 years old, a member of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program since 2013 is one of the active parent leaders at Barangay Pasong Putik, Quezon City. She was elected as a president of Kababaihan

Association in the same Barangay. She was married and blessed to have (eight) 8 children, (five) 5 of those have their own families and three of them are still studying in grades 4, 5 and 8 level. They are all doing their best to achieve good grades. Nancy and her family originally came from Bicol, they moved to Manila with the belief that opportunities are waiting for them and that they can have a better life. They live in the house that was given to her by her relative. Nancy was a sampaguita vendor before she became a Pantawid Pamilya member.

She is the breadwinner of the family because her husband is suffering from tuberculosis. The health center of the barangay provides free medicines for her husband’s maintenance, but it is not regular and continues. Her husband’s medicine costs Php200 a day. In this case, Nancy should work very hard to provide and save at least Php200 for the medicines of her husband. She was blessed to receive support from their children, but it is not enough for their expenses and other needs.

Nancy is the caretaker of the vacant lot near their house. She asked permission to the landowner if she could use the area to transform it into a garden. The landowner agreed to Nancy’s idea and allowed her to use the 300 square meters land. “Malaking tulong ang garden na ito sa amin dahil bukod sa napagkukunan namin ito ng pagkain nakakadagdag din ito sa pang araw-araw naming kita,” she shares.

It was in 2013 when Nancy with the help of her supportive family started to garden. Over the years, they were able to develop and maintain the area into a productive and profitable garden with plenty of herbal plants and varieties of fruits and vegetables; such as okra, tomatoes, eggplants, horseradish, bitter melon, luffa, bottle gourd, and Malabar spinach among others. It also serves as an area for relaxation and family bonding. Gardening is a therapeutic activity that helps Aling Nancy to destress and unwind.

When she was in Bicol she already had skills and knowledge in gardening and later on apply it in urban gardening in Barangay Pasong Putik. By the help of the City Link of Operations Office 4 of District 5 Ms. Mildred Campued, Nancy was given an opportunity to attend training regarding to Urban gardening sponsored by the SM Foundation. She had a 22 weeks of training and it helped her gain more knowledge and learn more skills in gardening. She was also helped by the local government unit and the Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) to sustain her garden by providing free training, tools, seeds and seedlings.

Waste materials converted into organic fertilizer

Nancy shared how the garden helps her family’s daily needs, it served as their food consumption, medical needs through taking herbal plants, and most of the time for marketing. It makes them become resourceful by using their old plastic bottles into pots and used for her vertical garden. Nancy and her family also become more eco-friendly by keeping and converting waste materials into an organic fertilizer. She also experienced some challenges in gardening like pest destroying her plants, maintaining the cleanliness of the garden, and having unhealthy plants due of direct sunlight and heavy rain. Some of her neighbors also stole her vegetables from the garden that is reason for her to fence the garden. She is also convincing her fellow Pantawid Pamilya members to have their own garden and she is willing to share her space in the garden with other Pantawid Pamilya members, in fact she is trying to convince them in the meeting particularly during FDS and parent group meetings.

Nancy sell her harvest crops and fruits and she earn 100 to 300 pesos a day. Her neighbors personally goes to her home to buy her produce so she do not have to go around to sell it. She use her income for the school expenses of her three children and other expenses for their basic needs. She is also using her herbal plants for her husband’s remedy. Aside from gardening, she is also selling doormat, “palaspas” and peanuts for her additional source of income.

Last 2007 Nancy was nominated as one of the contestants in their barangay for the  Malunggay Festival Contest. It is a contest organized by the DSWD Operations Office 4 to all barangays under district five of Quezon City and she won as 2^nd placer. On the same year, she also joined the Urban Farming Contest that was organized by the local government unit. It is a gardening project, which is part of the cash-based alternative support. She won as the second placer and received Php7,000 cash price. She spent the money in buying additional new seeds and seedling in the market.

When I asked her what is her ambition in life, she said. “I would like to fulfill my dream of seeing my children finish their education and I believe that my garden will help me fulfill that dream.” She ended her story and hoping to share her skills in gardening with her fellow Pantawid Pamilya members that are willing to spend time and resources to go into organic gardening not only to offer healthy vegetables but also to showcase that we can do farming even in urban areas.