Some 125 clients of Elsie Gaches Village (EGV), a residential care facility that serves mentally challenged persons with underlying medical problems, celebrated their achievement and success during their Recognition Day at Jose Fabella Memorial School (JFMS) as the Batch 2016 graduates of Special Education, held on March 21, 2016 at Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

With the theme “Kabataang Mula sa K to 12, Tagapagdala ng Kaunlaran sa Bansang Pilipinas”, the residents proudly walked on the stage, get their certificates and awards in front of their teachers, parents, friends and staff of EGV.

Ms. Olivia L. Pagurayan, JFMS Special Education Principal II expressed, “We are very happy for all of your achievements despite of your disabilities. Your successes are ours too, so continue to dream and we are here to support you.”

 Meanwhile, 28 students received certificates and graduated from SPED pre-vocational courses which marked the beginning of their journey for more opportunities to be productive in the center and in the society. Teachers were also recognized as they have rendered their invaluable service and shared their knowledge to the students.

The residents thanked the management and staff of Elsie Gaches Village, which is being managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR), for giving them an opportunity to discover their talents and enhanced their knowledge and skills. ### (FO-NCR, Social Marketing Office)

To help enhance the effectiveness of the Department and curb corruption through monitoring of DSWD core programs and projects, some 8 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)/Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs) inked Budget Partnership Agreement (BPA) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development- National Capital Region  (DSWD-NCR) on March 21, 2016 at Sampaloc, Manila.

Under this, partner CSOs and SWDAs agreed to work closely with the DSWD-NCR to make the national budget more responsive to the country’s development needs and pressing concern to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of services.

The signing of the BPA also contributes to President Aquino’s thrust to strengthen democratic institutions through people empowerment, particularly in promoting the principles and practice of good governance.

Moreover, this upholds transparency and accountability in allocation and utilization of public funds in serving the poor, through monitoring of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Sustainable Livelihood Program and Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Sam Bajaus and Indigenous People, among others.

The CSOs/SWDAs are:  Live for Others Movement; Center for Popular Empowerment; Share an Opportunity Philippines; Partnership for Integrated Services and Social Development (I-SERVE) Inc.; Philippine Relief and Development Services Inc.( PHILRADS); I am Redeemer and Master Evangelical Church; International Holistic Engagement for Life and Progress (I-HELP); Pastoral Elders Association for Righteous Leaders (PEARL). ###

Juliet Pagente, 45 years old proudly shared in front of her fellow Parent Leaders of Pantawid Pamilya program on how the her family’s life was changed after being included as beneficiaries of it, during the recently held roadshow of DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman in Balara Elementary School, Quezon City.

“Noon, nakakaraos naman kame pero hirap… ngayon, laking pasasalamat ko na nakasama kame sa Pantawid Pamilya… napakalaking tulong lalo’t napasama ang anak ko bilang skolar ng ESGPPA,” Juliet narrated.

Her youngest child, Vincent, 18 years old is currently in his second year in Mechanical Engineering at Rizal Technological University (RTU) as grantee of Expanded Students Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) with an education assistance amounting to P30,000.00 per semester.

ESGP-PA is a college scholarship program of the government being by DSWD and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in partnership with SUCs for the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.

 Serving constituents even without cash grants

Juliet admitted that her family no longer receives cash grants since all her children already graduated in high school, yet, she continuously performs her duties as a Parent Leader.

“Pag may nangailangan at lumapit sa akin, tinutulungan ko sila sa abot ng aking makakaya… kung may problema ang mga member kong Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, tinuturuan ko sila para maayos nila ito… dati ako ang tinutulungan, ngayon ako ang nakakatulong sa kapwa ko,” she added.

Juliet also shared that she even lends some money to her needy neighbors whenever an emergency happens.

 Maximizing the government’s support

In 2015, Julieta’s family availed the capital assistance of DSWD under the Sustainable Livehood Program (SLP) where they receive an amount of P7,000.00 that she used for the business in selling perfumes, laundry soap and dishwashing liquid.

Juliet and her husband Edward, 51 years old were also employed under the cash-for-work scheme as street sweeper for 15 and 10 days respectively in December 2015.

“Kung gagamitin sa mabuti ang tulong ng pamahalaan, talgang maganda ang kalalabasan nito sa buhay ng tao.. saka siyempre kailangan ding samahan ng sipag at tyaga para mapagtagumpayan ang lahat ng pagsubok,” Juliet emphasized.

As she greatly valued the learnings she is gaining from the monthly Family Development Session (FDS), Juliet maintains her attendance in it, even without cash grants at stake.

As of March 3, 2016, there are 230, 273 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Metro Manila who are receiving their respective cash grants based on their compliance to the conditionalities under the program. ###

The DSWD-NCR’s participants to the 4th Batch of DSWD Training of Trainers (TOT) on Family Evacuation Preparedness and Camp Coordination and Camp Management . Seated from Left are Glenie Marie Sinaon, Johanna Barameda, Glynice Morta, Olivia Salazar (Area Coordinators-Pantawid Pamilya), Benjie Barboza (OIC-DRU), April Alianza (OIC,-IDD-CBS), Ruel Cervantez (SWO III- Pantawid Pamilya) Hazel Militante (Chief, PSU), Froilan Maglaya, SWS-STU, Claire de Guzman (Head-Marillac Hills), Siony Flores (Head-Nayon ng Kabataan) Standing: Jeremiah Farrol (OIC-TC), Allan Sanchez (Area Coordinator-Pantawid Pamilya) Front Row from Left: Karen Bullecer and Leonina Baccay (Area Coordinators, Pantawid Pamilya).

A team from DSWD-NCR attend in the 4^th Batch of DSWD Training of Trainers (TOT) on Family Evacuation Preparedness and Camp Coordination and Camp Management at the South Palms Resort, Panglao Island, Bohol from March 14 to 18, 2016.

The TOT was being led by DSWD-Disaster Risk Emergency Assistance Management Bureau (DREAMB) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and aims to establish a network of implementers and trainers equipped with essential knowledge on Family Evacuation and Preparedness (FEP) and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) to efficiently perform their functions in providing assistance to the communities during emergency response operations. The activity was also joined by DSWD personnel from Field Office II, IV-A, V and DREAMB.

The weeklong activity aims to cover the following topics: The Sendai Framework and the DRRM Law (RA 10121), the DRO Guidelines (AO#3 DSWD DR Guidelines), Hazard and Vulnerability and Understanding Disaster Management, Family Preparedness, Humanitarian Response and CCCM, Gender Based Violence (GBV) in CCCM, Information Management (IM) in CCCM and Family Preparedness including actual exposure to selected Barangay to observe and interact with them regarding their Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness.

The team will develop action plan for the region particularly in providing training for local counterparts from the 17 LGUs in NCR and selected NGOs, CSOs and POs who are providing services to victims/survivors of disaster.

One of the outputs of the team is to come up with early warning messages that can be shared to communities and beneficiaries as follows:

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) calls for full functionality of the Barangay Council for the Protection for Children (BCPC) as deemed necessary manifested in the current viral video of a female minor with a stone who threatens a motorist along C5 road which is a following issue of minors who are recklessly throwing stones along the same road.

Under the Presidential Decree No. 603 article 87, every barangay council shall encourage the organization of a local Council for the Protection of Children and shall coordinate with the Council for the Welfare of Children and Youth in drawing and implementing plans for the promotion of child and youth welfare. Membership shall be taken from responsible members of the community including a representative of the youth, as well as representatives of government and private agencies concerned with the welfare of children and youth whose area of assignment includes the particular barangay and shall be on a purely voluntary basis.

In this, among the responsibilities of the BCPC are:

(1) Foster the education of every child in the barangay;

(2) Encourage the proper performance of the duties of parents, and provide learning opportunities on the adequate rearing of children and on positive parent-child relationship;

(3) Protect and assist abandoned or maltreated children and dependents;

(4) Take steps to prevent juvenile delinquency and assist parents of children with behavioral problems so that they can get expert advise;

(5) Adopt measures for the health of children;

(6) Promote the opening and maintenance of playgrounds and day-care centers and other services that are necessary for child and youth welfare;

(7) Coordinate the activities of organizations devoted to the welfare of children and secure their cooperation;

(8) Promote wholesome entertainment in the community, especially in movie houses; and

(9) Assist parents, whenever necessary in securing expert guidance counseling from the proper governmental or private welfare agency.

“These children have no civil liability under the Juvenile Justice System and should be rehabilitated if necessary. However, their civil liabilities may be transferred to their parents since they are the one responsible for nurturing and supervising the activities of their children,” said DSWD-NCR Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson.

Director Leyson also emphasized that if BCPCs are actively functioning, such cases involving delinquent doing of minors will be addressed and prevented in the Barangay level as first responder of their respective covered areas.

Meanwhile, in coordination with LGUs, the Department continuously conducts reach-out operations to families and individuals on the street which were reported via phone call, walk-in or through the @savestreetkids twitter account of DSWD-NCR.

In said operation, the social worker of DSWD upon receipt of the report first validates it with the concerned LGU/ barangay. After this, the social worker will proceed in the area with the assistance of barangay officials.

If the client was validated to be an original resident of the nearby provinces, he/she will be provided with transportation assistance under the “Balik-probinsya” of the Department with a written agreement that they shall not go back to Metro Manila and dwell on the streets again.

On the case of the child client, the social worker will return the minor to his/her house and will provided counselling to the parents with a written agreement that they shall not let their child go back to street again.

Further, if the written agreement was violated in the case of the reached out child, he/she will be temporarily rehabilitated in the DSWD/ LGU’s center for a certain period of time depending on the assessment conducted by the designated social worker.### (DSWD-NCR Social Marketing Office, March 14, 2016)

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) participated on the recent GO Volunteer Expo, a two-day event that brings together over 25 volunteer engaging organizations, supporting different advocacies and causes – from Education, Youth, Poverty Alleviation, the Environment, to Government and Human Rights held at Glorietta Activity Center, Makati City on March 5-6, 2016.

During the activity, the Field Office encouraged the public to be part of the Bayanihang Bayan Program where volunteers can be placed in various DSWD offices, centers and institutions as well as in community based activities such as disaster operations.

Meanwhile, former DSWD Secretary Corazon de Leon inspired the people to volunteer. She said, “Napakahalaga ng sense of purpose sa volunteerism. Bakit ka ba nagvovolunteer? And the best way to help is to ask where help is needed. Sana mamayang gabi magka-insomya kayo, wag kayong makatulog, para mapag-isipan muna niyo kung paano kayo makatutulong. Remember these lines, “I am only one but I am one, I cannot do everything but I can do something.”

The participants enjoyed the interactive activities. They also learned about pressing social needs and how they can help. The expo was being conducted by iVolunteer Philippines, in partnership with DSWD-NCR and other stakeholders.  JB Tan, founder of IVolunteer Philippines shared that “volunteerism should not only be alive in times of disaster and calamities. Instead, it should be part of our everyday consciousness.” ### (FO-NCR, Social Marketing Office)

In line with adoption consciousness celebration and to raise their awareness and knowledge on the processing of alternative parental care, the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) provided adoption orientation-forum to some 50 invited government health workers and medical practitioners in Metro Manila.

Among the topics discussed during the orientation are the regional situation on children for alternative parental care in NCR, the laws on adoption and foster care, rules and regulations in reporting child abuse and abandoned children and the government’s response in strengthening alternative parental care programs and services.

Based on the RA 8552, the State shall provide alternative protection and assistance through foster care or adoption for every child who is foundling, neglected, orphaned or abandoned.

In this, the primary consideration in processing a temporary (foster care) or permanent (adoption) parental care for said cases are the best interest for the child to be loved, nurtured and secured.

The Department initiated this activity held yesterday in Quezon City since some cases of adoption were initially processed in hospitals and lying-in clinics, even upon delivery of the child or upon admission of the abused patients, who are children.

Dra. Elizabeth Medina from East Rembo Lying – In clinic in Makati City shared how the activity opened her eyes on the proper process of adoption including the responsibility of reporting abused, neglected and abandoned child to authorities.

 “Mejo out of place ang feeling namin kanina dahil pang social worker ang pinag uusapan at ano naman ang kinalaman namin dito. pero After a while nalaman ko na kailangan nga sigurong umattend kami nito para malaman namin ang proper procedure when we encounter abandoned children or if we during the course of interviewing mothers ay nahuhuli namin sa kasinungalingan giving us fictitious names and addresses na ang sole purpose nun ay para madamay kame sa paggawa ng simulated birth certificate… and yung experience na inaamin na hindi naman sa knila ung bata at iniwan lang sa kanila ng katulong, diko alam na dapat pala naming i-report yun so next time na may ma encounter ay irereport na namin,” she said.

RD Vincent Andrew T. Leyson expressed gratitude to the active participation of the attendees which signals that they are willing to be the advocate of the Department in disseminating and implementing the proper process of adoption and foster care.

DSWD is the issuing party of the Certificate Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption (CDCLAA) which is the first step of adoption after the child was proven to be neglected/ abandoned through the submission of pertinent documents, or was voluntarily committed by his/her parent(s)/ legal guardian.

According to Section 4 of RA 8552, the following may adopt a child that is legally available for adoption:

(1) Any Filipino citizen of legal age, in possession of full civil capacity and legal rights, of good moral character, has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude; who is emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children, at least sixteen (16) years older than the adoptee, and who is in a position to support and care for his/her children in keeping with the means of the family. The requirement of a 16-year difference between the age of the adopter and adoptee may be waived when the adopter is the biological parent of the adoptee or is the spouse of the adoptee’s parent;

(2) Any alien possessing the same qualifications as above-stated for Filipino nationals: Provided, That his country has diplomatic relations with the Republic of the Philippines, that he/she has been living in the Philippines for at least three (3) continuous years prior to the filing of the petition for adoption and maintains such residence until the adoption decree is entered, that he/she has been certified by his/her diplomatic or consular office or any appropriate government agency to have the legal capacity to adopt in his/her country, and that his/her government allows the adoptee to enter his/her country as his/her adopted child. Provided, further, That the requirements on residency and certification of the alien’s qualification to adopt in his/her country may be waived for the following:

(i) a former Filipino citizen who seeks to adopt a relative within the fourth (4th) degree of consanguinity or affinity;

(ii) one who seeks to adopt the legitimate child of his/her Filipino spouse;

(iii) one who is married to a Filipino citizen and seeks to adopt jointly with his/her spouse a relative within the fourth (4th) degree of consanguinity or affinity of the Filipino spouse.

(3) The guardian with respect to the ward after the termination of the guardianship and clearance of his/her financial accountabilities.

Husband and wife shall jointly adopt, except in the following cases:

(i) if one spouse seeks to adopt the legitimate child of one spouse by the other spouse; or

(ii) if one spouse seeks to adopt his/her own illegitimate child: Provided, however, That the other spouse has signified his/her consent thereto; or

(iii) if the spouses are legally separated from each other.

In case husband and wife jointly adopt or one spouse adopts the illegitimate child of the other, joint parental authority shall be exercised by the spouses.###

Thousands of people including some residents of the Elsie Gaches Village (EGV) participated in the Happy Walk 2016 as part of the annual celebration of the National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month which carries the theme, “All for Down: A Day with Family and Friends” held at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City on February 21, 2016.

The event was graced by the delegation from the United States embassy led by Ambassador Philip Goldberg. Goldberg said that the US government has always advocated for the acceptance and inclusivity of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the communities and society. He is also joined by the SM President Hans Sy and officials of the Down Syndrome Associations of the Philippines, Inc. (DSAPI) during the walk.

Down Syndrome, or Trisomy 21, is a condition in which an extra genetic material called chromosome 21 causes delays in the mental and physical development of a child. There is no known cause or cure but 80 percent of babies with the condition are born to mothers aged 35 years and below. Data shows that one in every 800 Filipino children was being affected by this disorder.

Through this activity, the residents of the EGV were able to know more about their condition. Their socialization also broadens as they interacted with other children. Moreover, this became opportunity for them to discover something about themselves and develop their confidence in dealing with other people.

Elsie Gaches Village is a residential care facility that serves mentally challenged persons with underlying medical problems. ###