The Local Government of Mandaluyong was awarded as the winner in the first Regional Search for Pantawid Pamilya Best Gulayan sa Barangay 2018 conducted by the Department of Social Development and Welfare National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR).

The Local Government of Pasay was awarded the 4th runner-up while the Local Government of Manila was awarded 3rd runner-up. The Local Government of Muntinlupa and Manila were awarded 2nd runner-up and 1st runner-up, respectively.

Assistant Regional Director for Operations Edna J. Sacedor and Mr. Joel D. Cam, Regional Program Coordinator of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program awarded the winners during the DSWD-NCR Field Office Flag Raising Ceremony on September 3, 2018. The top 5 Gulayan sa Barangay groups received a cash prize and a certificate of recognition.

The contest was open to all Pantawid Pamilya members from Local Government Units across the region. A desk validation of the submitted nominations was conducted by selected Pantawid Pamilya Regional Project Management Office focal officers who served as judges to the competition.

After the judges chose the top 5 Gulayan sa Barangay from all the LGU nominees, a field validation was conducted to visit the finalists’ gardens to ensure that data included in the documentation are accurate and to acquire information that was not included in the entry submission.

The communal gardens of the finalists were evaluated for their uniqueness, creativity and use of recyclable materials. The leadership and group cohesiveness of the group maintaining the Gulayan was also a criterion for the contest. The garden’s sustainability was another factor in determining the best Gulayan sa Barangay in the region.

The regional search aimed to showcase the establishment and the maintenance of the Gulayan sa Barangay of the Pantawid Pamilya members. The contest also aimed to underline the impact of the communal garden in their respective barangays in terms of contribution to nutrient sufficiency, food security, community development, and potential livelihood opportunities. It also encouraged members to be more involved, increase their awareness and sustain their interest in urban gardening.  ###

The newly elected officers of the Lions Street Children Foundation were presented to the attendees of the induction ceremony held last August 28.

The Lions Street Children Foundation Incorporated, recently held their 49^th Induction Ceremony at the Sulo Riviera Hotel on August 28. The Lions Street Children Foundation or LSCF has been one of Nayon ng Kabataan’s steadfast supporters and benefactors in their goal to care for abused, neglected and exploited children.

Three representatives from Nayon ng Kabataan’s Productivity Service attended the formal banquet along with different members of LSCF from different generations who gathered to honor the outgoing set of officers and to induct the new set of officers. After the induction ceremony, the night commenced with a dinner and ballroom dancing for all the attendees.

The event marks a milestone in the strengthened partnership between Nayon ng Kabataan and Lions Street Children Foundation which started in February 2006, when LSCF sponsored the construction of a new cottage within NK. Lions Street Children Foundation continued to unceasingly support the different activities and skills training programs within the Nayon ng Kabataan. ###

The Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched two new five-year projects aimed at strengthening the country’s fight against tuberculosis.

During a recently held event at the Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City, with the theme “Heroes for Healthy Lungs”, the DOH and DSWD also launched the Family Development Session TB module, which aims to promote positive behavior change of individuals and the community to prevent, detect, and treat TB. Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries participated in several activity booths which included an initial physical screening, x-ray test, puzzles, trivia games, and Family Development Sessions.

Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III launched the project alongside DSWD Assistant Secretary Glenda de Rama Relova and US embassy Charge d’Affaires Michael Klecheski.

According to Duque, the TB innovations and TB platforms projects have a total funding of 2.5 billion pesos. He added that the new flagship projects will focus on the three regions with the highest number of TB cases. These are the National Capital Region, Region 3 (Central Luzon) and Region 4A (Calabarzon). The projects aim to reduce by 95 percent deaths due to TB and lower the new cases of TB by 90 percent by the year 2035, Duque said.

Under the TB innovations project, the DOH would improve the health system of local government units (LGUS). This will include enhancements to their database management system to track all reported TB cases.

Duque said that around 1 million Filipinos are TB patients. Around 60 Filipinos die of the disease daily.

Meanwhile, Duque said that the DOH aims to deliver high quality, patient-centered TB and drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) case detection and treatment under the TB platforms project. He also underlined the importance of completing treatment to stop the development of DR-TB.

The DOH Secretary said the TB module which has been integrated in the Family Development Session (FDS) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4s) will improve TB knowledge and skill in identifying family members with TB symptoms of parents and guardians in around 30, 000 household beneficiaries in the three regions with the highest incidence of TB.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Relova said the module is part of the national plan to eradicate TB. The integration of the module in the FDS also aimed to eliminate  social stigma experienced by those who are afflicted with the manageable type of the disease.

Duque, Klecheski and Relova all encouraged Filipino TB patients to avail the free treatment offered by the government. ###

The Department of Social Welfare and Development National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) recently conducted a Policy Forum on the Establishment of National Commission of Senior Citizens at Icon Hotel, Timog, Quezon City, as part of its efforts to promote the welfare of the elderly sector.

The event aimed to be a venue of discussion of Social Welfare Development policy concerns among partner stakeholders to collate or develop concrete policy recommendations and plan of actions to lobby the DSWD priority legislative measures.

During the first part of the forum, a national situationer, which gave an overall picture of the current conditions of the elderly sector across the country, was presented by Project Development Officer III Sylvia D.  Alegre.  Aside from the financial and economic circumstances of Senior Citizens, the existing laws, programs, and initiatives geared towards the welfare of the elderly sector were also laid out.

The first bill presented was “The National Commission of Senior Citizens Act”, which proposed the establishment of a National Commission of senior citizens. The commission will be the primary government agency responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies, plans, and programs for senior citizens to protect and promote their rights.

DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson emphasized the need for a body focused on the welfare of senior citizens. “I think it is high time that we create this commission, given that around 10 million of the population are part of the elderly sector,” he said during his remarks.

Meanwhile, the second proposed bill known as the Elderly Abused Bill or the “Protection for Elderly Act”, aims to ensure that the senior citizens are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and coercion, especially acts harmful to their personal safety and security.

A plenary discussion by sectorial representatives was held after the presentation of the proposed bills. Panelists Mr. Jorge B. Banal Sr., President of the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines,  Ms. Salvacion Basciano of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Coalition of Services of the Elderly Inc., Ms. Adelwisa Maria Joaquin, the President of Bantay Matanda Inc., and Ms. Rosita B. Gonio of the Hulong Duhat Elderly Senior Citizen Association gave their respective opinions, reactions, and comments on the lobbying of the proposed bills.

Attendees took part in an open forum during the second part of the program, in which they raised their issues, concerns, and queries to the members of the panel.

At the end of the event, participants signed the tarpaulin of the forum in a show of solidarity with the Department’s advocacy. The symbolic signing also represents the signature campaign that was launched during the forum.  ###

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. ###

From the left: DSWD-NCR Deputy Regional Project Manager Mark Garcia, LBP Assistant Vice President (AVP) Josa Paderogo, AVP Isidro Bautista, AVP Virgilio Paranial, Senior Vice President Ramon Monteloyola, DSWD-NCR Regional Information Technology Officer Michael Mercado, LBP Senior Vice President Leila Martin, DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson, LBP AVP Domingo Conrado Galsim, DSWD-NCR Regional Field Coordinator Amado Suarez, LBP Branch head Nardo Masa, AVP Elenita Manucom, and Branch Head Manuel Ylanan during the meeting regarding the UCT payout.

Beginning August 28, 2018, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) will support the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) in conducting the payout of the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) for selected beneficiaries.

The partnership was agreed upon in a meeting between representatives of DSWD-NCR and Land Bank held recently at the Office of the Secretary Conference room of the Field Office NCR.

During the meeting, DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson said that there was a total of 22, 180 selected UCT beneficiaries which were identified through the Proxy Means Test (PMT) application for the successfully validated households. He also presented the strategies for the Land Bank branches in the region for the distribution of the Cash Grants. He added that Listahanan will certify the list of beneficiaries.

One of the agenda during the meeting was the valid Identification Cards (IDs) that the beneficiaries will present during the registration. Participants of the meeting also discussed ways to make the process more efficient and convenient for the identified beneficiaries.

UCT is the biggest social mitigation program under the Duterte administration to aid families who will not benefit from the lower income tax rates but will be adversely affected by rising prices of basic commodities. Recipients will receive P200.00 per month this year and P300.00/month in 2019 and 2020. ###

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. ###