The 2018 GAA provisions for the administrative cost of PSP for 2018 were set at 5% contrary to the customary GAA provision of 12%. This change in the GAA provision affected the salaries of the workers which is commensurate to an amount which is equal to the salaries of 836 PSP workers from January to June 2018.

This problem was anticipated by the Department as early as April 2018, an alternative option of request for fund augmentation was explored by the Department. The Department also decided to cut on some activities to augment the salaries of employees but this initiative took care of the salaries of employees from July to September of 2018.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD NCR) clarified that the temporary suspension of services of 177 Cost of Service staff under the Protective Service Program, Crisis Intervention Unit and Lingap Sa Masa whose funds are chargeable against the PSP funds is an unfortunate circumstance not only in the Field Office but across all Field Offices of DSWD.

The lack of funds for the period of October 16 to December 31, 2018 hindered the continuous service of said number of staff which has a huge impact on the operationalization of the programs. As early as August 2018, the staff were informed regarding the nationwide funding dilemma. Nonetheless, the FO NCR management continuously followed up to the Central Office through series of memoranda while Central Office worked hard to lobby to the Department of Budget and Management the additional funding to pay for the services of the COS staff.

“It is but fair for the 177 COS staff to know the real situation which is why after the issuance of the memorandum of temporary suspension of their services on October 18, 2018, the concerned staff were convened and explained to them that while awaiting funding to be downloaded, the services will be temporarily suspended,” Assistant Secretary of the Office of Secretary Group and Concurrent OIC – Regional Director Glenda D. Relova said.

Relova even made representations before the DBM in order to put a stop on the domino effect of the temporary suspension on the program implementation and further, to those who are beneficiaries of the affected programs.

While exhausting all possible means, Relova instructed to prioritize the laid off staff to the available vacant positions in the Field Office.

“Despite of this challenge, DSWD NCR will not stop catering to the clients and individuals in crises situation,” Relova emphasized. Staff augmentation was requested from different Divisions, Units, Sections and Programs in the Field Office to ensure the continuity of the implementation of the programs.

In pursuing the options that the Department needs to take, and in order for all parties involve to have a “win-win” situation, the DSWD management is taking into considerations two sides which is to ensure the continuous delivery of frontline services together with the assurance that the needed number of workers are maintained and will not be displaced.

Relova appealed to the concerned staff to extend their patience and understanding that the top management is doing its best in taking immediate action on this pressing concern. She also solicited the support of the Social Welfare Employees Association of the Philippines (SWEAP) in disseminating the correct information. She ensured that the Union will be provided with updates on the results of the actions that are being undertaken by the management.

“The DSWD is the agency mandated to protect the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized the same way that we would like to protect the welfare of our staff. It is with heavy heart that the work for the 177 staff of the Field Office were suspended.” Relova said. ###

One of the challenges of establishing a communal garden in an urban community is finding an available lot or area. In order to overcome this, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program members of Barangay Hulong Duhat had to think outside the box.

To have access to an available land for their garden, Pantawid Pamilya members established a partnership with the Malabon Elementary School, the oldest school in the Local Government Unit (LGU) that was established in 1903.

The school allowed Pantawid Pamilya members to utilize a portion of their land for urban gardening. The garden was already established before the Pantawid Pamilya farmers contributed to its maintenance. There are two (2) garden inside the school both maintained by Pantawid Pamilya members when they started urban gardening last year of June. The school welcomed the Pantawid Pamilya members as they were guided by Ms. Editha Legaspi the caretaker of the School Gardens for three (3) years, who is also a Pantawid Pamilya member.

The development and maintenance of the garden became a joint effort of Pantawid Pamilya farmers and the elementary students of Malabon Elementary School. There are 80 active Pantawid Pamilya farmers engaging in gardening and helped it established.

The garden is incorporated in the lesson of the elementary students’ agriculture lessons conducted by a  Pantawid Pamilya farmer. The harvested vegetables are cooked for school’s feeding program and Pantawid Pamilya farmers are also allowed to consume the vegetables.

The garden received a water tank that was placed inside the garden, giving it easy access to water. They also received seeds from City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) last year of November.

Last July 13, 2018 the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provided 102 trays of seedlings through the coordination of the Community Organizer, Mr. Rovheen Conrad M. Bandola and the City Link, Ms. Wilnalyn Borromeo of the area.

The garden went through challenges as well; the most recent was during typhoon Ompong. Due to strong wind, the garden’s fence collapse. The Pantawid Pamilya Farmers fix the garden fence immediately after typhoon left the country.

A notable feature of their garden about is their capacity to plant rice despite being located in an urban area. This proves that any type of gardening can be feasible through hard work and dedication.

Another exceptional feature of their garden is the cooperation of Pantawid Pamilya farmers and elementary students with the active support of the school behind the collaboration. It is a shared effort of the students and the Pantawid Pamilya members. Because of this, Pantawid Pamilya members working on the urban garden and the school administration became partners on some of the school’s activities such as Clean-up Drive and Brigada Eskwela.

The strong partnership between the two parties can also considered as an accomplishment for the beneficiaries, who managed to earn the trust and the total support of the school.

Because of the consistent cooperation of Pantawid Pamilya Farmers and the school, it won twice as the Division’s Best Implementer of “Gulayan sa Paaralan” for the year 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.

 When they were asked about how the garden helps them individually, they said that it has become a hobby for them. They also consider it to be beneficial, as it promotes healthy living by eating vegetables and also vieww it as a great form of exercise. Though they did not earn money from it, they are highly committed to the garden because it promotes cleanliness. They added that they also feel satisfied knowing that the produce from their garden are used for the feeding program for the elementary students.

Through coordination with Barangay Secretary of Barangay Hulong Duhat, the Pantawid Pamilya farmers are planning to  establish another garden in the community which will be supported by them.

Si Josephine Dala, 52 taong gulang, ay isa sa mga dating miyembro ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program na natulungan ng programa na makamit ang ginhawa sa buhay.

Si Josephine ay nakatira sa #2 General Recarte St, Dona Rosario, Barangay Novaliches Proper, Quezon City. Ang kanyang asawa na si Marshal ay isang dating Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) noon sa Kuwait. Pinili ng kanyang asawa na manatili na sa Pilipinas upang makasama ang pamilya.

 Sila ay biniyayaan ng tatlong anak. Ang kanyang panganay ay si Mary Joy, 26 taong gulang at may sarili na ngayong pamilya. Ang sumunod ay si Marjorie, 20 taong gulang at nakapagtapos din ng kolehiyo. Ang bunso naman ay si Jay Mark na 17 taong gulang.

 Nang umuwi ang kanyang asawa sa Pilipinas ay wala silang naging kabuhayan dahil ito lang ang natatanging pinagkukunan nila ng pera noon. Dahil dito, siya ay nagdesisyong magtayo nang munting kainan o karinderya sa tapat ng kanilang bahay upang magkaroon ng pera na panustos sa kanilang mga pangangailangan. Ang kita mula sa maliit nyang negosyo ang ginamit nila para sa  gastusin sa bahay pati narin sa pag-aaral na kanilang mga anak.

Nang siya ay mapabilang sa programa ay gumaan ang buhay ng pamilya ni Josephine.  Ginamit niya ng maayos ang tulong na natatanggap mula sa gobyerno. Ang cash grants na kanyang natatanggap ay naging malaking tulong sa kanilang negosyo. Ipinangdagdag niya ito sa puhunan ng kanilang karinderya upang ito ay patuloy na lumago.

 Si Josephine ay isa sa mga nag-waive sa Patawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Siya ay umalis na ng programa dahil  alam niyang mayroon na siyang kakayahan na itaguyo ang kanyang pamilya. Nang bumisita sa bahay nila ang kanilang City Link para pag usapan ang pag-alis niya sa programa ay hindi ito nagdalawang-isip na pumayag  dahil alam niyang mayroon na siya ng kapasidad upang iangat mula sa hirap ang kanyang pamilya. Gusto din niya na matulungan ng programa ang mga mas nangangailangan ng tulong ng gobyerno.

Ayon kay Josephine, maraming naidagdag sa kanyang kaalaman ang mga Family Development Session (FDS) na kanyang dinaluhan habang nasa ilalim ng programa. “Natutunan ko din ang tamang pagsusubaybay lalo na sa pag aalaga ng mga anak ko. Malaking tulong ito sa akin bilang single parent kung paano disiplinahin ang mga anak ko dahil nasa ibang bansa pa noon ang aking asawa,” sabi niya.

Naging mas maigting na rin si Josephine sa pagbabantay sa kalusugan ng kanyang mga anak. Dahil sa programa ay naging regular ang pagpapatingin niya ng kanyang mga anak sa Health Center. Dagdag niya, hindi lang ang kalusugan ng mga bata ang kanyang nababantayan, pati na rin ang kalusugan nilang mag-asawa.

 Sa ngayon ay patuloy pa rin ang paglago ng negosyo ng pamilya. “Dati po mga ulam lng talaga ang binebenta ko, ngayon po ay may sari sari store, bigasan, at karinderya na po kami.”

Isa sa mga gusto niyang iparating sa mga kapwa niya myembero ng programa ay ang mag sumikap sa buhay para makaahon sa hirap. “Pinangarap ko po dati na balang araw ay makakaahon kami sa hirap, ngayon po ay unti unti na naming nakakamit.”  Pinayuhan niya din ang ibang miyembro na patuloy na magsumikap sa buhay, dahil hindi kusang lalapit ang grasya kung hindi ito pinagpapaguran.

Dating naninirahan sa gilid ng riles ng tren sa bayan ng Malabon ang pamilya ni Ginang Hermilyn Pagsiguiron Berdera, 49 taong gulang. Noong 2005, inilipat ang pamilya sa kanilang bagong tahanan sa Bayan ng Valenzuela sa Morning Ville sa ilalim  proyekto ng National Housing Authority (NHA).

Hindi naging madali ang buhay nina Hermilyn sa bago nilang tirahan. Lote lamang ang nailaan para sa kanila, kung kaya’t sa isang maliit na “tent” na lang natutulog ang buong pamilya. Tiniis ng pamilya ang init ng araw sa umaga, at ang putik at baha naman sa gabi sa tuwing umuulan.

Sinikap ng ni Hermilyn at ng kanyang asawa na si Ziolo na makapagpatayo ng bahay para sa kanilang pamilya sa kabila ng kahirapan. Habang si Hermilyn ay nagtitinda ng mga ihaw-ihaw ay siya naming pagtatrabaho ng kanyang asawa  sa isang malapit lamang na construction sa kanilang lugar. Ang kinikita ng mag-asawa ay pinagsasama nila at paunti-unti ay makapag pagawa ng kanilang bahay.

Taong 2008 nang magbigay ng ayuda ang Munisipyo ng Valenzuela sa pamilya ni  Hermilyn. Nagbigay ang pamahalaan sa bawat pamilyang nailipat sa lugar ng panimulang materyales para sa pagpapatayo ng kanilang mga bahay.

Ngunit sa di inaasahan ay nagkasakit ang ama ng kanilang tahanan. Naging lalong mahirap sa pamilya na matugunan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan. Tumagal sa pagamutan ang asawa ni Hermilyn at noon taong 2010 ay pumanaw ito dahil sa pagkakaroon ng pagbara sa daluyan ng puso na siya nitong ikinamatay.

Ayon kay Hermilyn, ang pagkawala ng kanyang asawa ay maihahalintulad niya sa isang ibon na naputulan ng isang pakpak. Naging malaking dagok sakanya ang mga pangyayari. Ngunit hindi siya sumuko at ito ay kanyang npagtagumpayan.

Isang biyayang maituturing ni Hermilyn noong siya ay na-interview at napabilang sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program noong 2014. Dalawang bata sa kanyang pangangalaga ang napasailalim sa programa: ang kanyang apo na si Nissyzoila Berdera na nasa kinder at ang kanyang bunsong anak na si Reynan na noon ay nasa grade 8.

 Malaking ginhawa ang naibigay ng programa sa kanilang pamuuhay. Nakatulong ito sa gastusin sa kanilang pang araw-araw na pangangailangan, sa edukasyon ng kanyang anak at maging sa pambili ng vitamins ng kanyang apo.  Ang kanyang anak na pangalawa na si Raquel naman ay nagtratrabahao sa isang kompanya sa Valenzuela upang makadagdag na matugunan ang kanilang mga gastusin.

Lumipas ang mga taon, unti-unting nagkaroon ng kanya-kanyang pamilya ang mga anak ni Ginang Hermilyn at nagkaroon siya ng pitong apo. Tanging ang kanyang dalawang anak na hindi pa nagkakapamilya ang naiwan. Pinili ng mga anak ni Ginang Hermilyn ang manirahan pa rin kasama ang kanilang ina at magsama-sama sila sa iisang bubong. Kahit ganito ang kanilang sitwasyon ay isinasalarawan pa rin ni Ginang Hermilyn na masaya ang kanilang pagsasama sa kanilang munting tahanan. Nagtulungan ang mag-anak hanggang sa naipagawa nila ang kanilang bahay at napalagyan na rin ng aircon.

Ang Family Development Sesssion o FDS na isinasagawa sa ilalim ng programa isang beses sa isang buwan ay lubos na nakadagdag sa kaalaman ni Hermilyn. Ayon sa kanya, naging isang mas mabuti siyang magulang dahil dito.

Sa ngayon ay masaya na si Ginang Hermilyn kasama ang kaniyang pamilya. Siya ay  umalis na sa programa dahil kaya na niya na matugunan at maitaguyod ang kanilang mga pangangailangan sa kabila ng sila ay wala na sa loob ng Program ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino.

Ipinapaabot ni Hermilyn ang lubos na pasasalamat sa programa dahil sa malaking tulong nito sa kanilang pamilya. “Kakayanin din nilang makatawid, basta’t sila ay patuloy na lumaban,” payo niya sa ibang pamilya na nasa ilalim pa rin ng programa.

Ang buhay ay maihahambing natin sa isang mahabang pakikipagsapalaran. Ito ay puno ng mga pangyayari na maaari tayong dalhin sa maraming lugar at sitwasyon. Madalas ay mga pagsubok at suliranin ang ating nararanasan sa ating buhay. Ngunit ang mga hamon na ating kinakaharap ay maaari ding maging instrumento ng ating tagumpay, kung tayo ay patuloy na lalaban at hindi susuko.

Si Mergelen S. Lunzaga, 40 taong gulang, isang Aeta/Igorot mula sa probinsya ng Isabela, ay hindi estranghera sa pakikipagsapalaran. Sa murang edad ay naranasan na niya ang hirap na buhay.  Lumaki siya sa Girls Home ng Boystown Complex dahil maagang namayapa ang kanyang ina dahil sa cancer.

Pinasok niya ang ibat-ibang trabaho at mga scholarship upang mapag-aral ang kanyang sarili. Nagbunga naman ang kanyang mga pagsisikap sa katagalan. Nakapagtapos siya ng Bachelor of Science in Education sa kolehiyo. Ikinasal siya at nagbunga ito ng limang supling.

Ngunit hindi niya akalaing mag-isa niyang bubuhayin ang kanilang mga anak dahil iniwan siya ng kanyang asawa. Dahil sa isa na siyang Solo Parent, mas naging mahirap sa kanya ang buhayin ang kanyang mga anak. Ngunit hindi pa rin sya natinag at sumuko sa buhay bagkus aynagsilbing inspirasyon ang kanyang mga anak na mas magsumikap pa siya. Upang patuloy na maitaguyod ang kanyang sarili at ang kanyang mga anak ay pinasok niya ang pangangalakal.

Taong 2013 nang siya ay napabilang sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Ang programa ay naging isa sa mga paraan upang matugunan niya ang mga pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya. Ayon sa kanya, tuwing natatanggap niya ang cash grants ay talagang inuuna niya ang mga project ng kanyang mga anak sa halip na mamasyal at kumain sa labas. Ihinahatid niya kanyang mga anak, umulan man o umaraw, makapasok lamang ang mga ito sa paaralan.

Isa pa sa mga naging benepisyo ng programa ay ang pagiging parte niya noon sa Cash for Work na naging instrumento din upang matugunan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan. Nang lumaki-laki na rin ang kanyang bunso ay nabigyan na siya ng pagkakataon na makapaghanap ng permanenteng trabaho.

Dahil sa sarili niyang inisyatibo ay nagtungo siya sa Department of Social Development and Welfare upang mag-apply. Sa kabutihang palad ay natanggap siya sa  posisyong Child Welfare Assistant. Malaki ang kanyang pasasalamat na sa wakas ay meron na siyang trabaho/

Ayon kay Mergelen, ang kanyang pagseserbisyo sa programa ay isang paraan upang masuklian niya nag pagiging parte nito noon. Dahil naranasan niyang maging isang benepisyaryo, sinusubukan niya sa abot na kanyang makakaya na makapagbigay ng maayos na serbisyo at impormasyon sa mga benepisyaryo na maaring makatulong sa kanila upang makaahon kahit papano sa buhay. Isa sa mga gawain ng programa na talagang kinasisiyahan  ay ang pagsasagawa ng children’s activity. Dahil sa malapit sa kanyang puso ang pagtututuro, malugod niyang ginampanan ang kanyang tungkulin.

Hindi tumigil si Mergelen upang tuloy-tuloy na mapabuti ang buhay ng kanyang pamilya. Sa kanyang pag-pupursige ay naging isa siyang Child Welfare Assistant na may contractual status mula sa pagiging isang empleyado na MOA (Memorandum of Agreement).

Sa kasalukuyan ay mag-isa niya pa ring tinataguyod ang kanyang limang anak na sina Stephany, 17 taong gulang, Cyrel na 16 taong gulang, Sofia na 14 taong gulang, Sargon, 12 taong gulang at ang kanyang bunsong si Salgei, sampung taong gulang. Isa pa ng mga pagsubok na kanyang pinagdaanan ay ang pagkakaroon ng dyslexia ng isa niyang anak. Hirap itong magbasa at matuto. Pero sa dahil sa kanyang pagtitiyaga at pakikipag-usap sa mga teacher nito tungkol sa kondisyon ng kanyang anak ay tuloy-tuloy ang pag-aaral nito.

Patuloy siyang nangangarap hindi lamang para sa kanya kundi pati sa kanyang mga anak. Pangarap niyang makatapos ang mga ito at maging permanente na rin sa kanyang trabaho pagdating ng panahon. Isa pa sa pinapangarap niya ay ang ang makakuha ng Master’s Degree at magkaroon ng lisensya sa pagtuturo.  

Isa sa mga gusto niyang iparating sa mga benepisyaryo ng programa ay ang yakapin nila ito ngunit huwag umasa dito ng sobra-sobra. Hinikayat niya ang mga ito na gamitin ang mga oportunidad na inilalaan ng gobyerno at gamitin ang kung ano mang kakayanan ang meron sila upang malinang ang mga sarili at sa kalaunan ay makaahon din sa kahirapan. Hangad din niya na mas tumatag, mapalawig at maisabatas pa ang programa dahil naniniwala siyang marami ang matutulungan dito.

Tunay nga na sa kanyang sariling pagpupursigi sa buhay at sa tulong na rin ng programa ay nalampasan niya ang ibat-ibang pagsubok na naranasan niya sa buhay. Ang kanyang buhay ay puno man hirap na kanyang mga naranasan, ang kanyang mga luha sa mga hinarap na pagsubok ay naging simbolo kanyang katatagan. Sa bawat araw na siya ay nabubuhay patuloy siyang nakikibaka sa mga hamon ng buhay dahil hangga’t siya ay nabubuhay pa, hindi pa tapos ang laban.

Winners of the Regional Search for Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Children 2018 as well as Ginoo at Binibining Pantawid Pamilya 2018 in the National Capital Region were recognized during the celebration of Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region’s (DSWD-NCR) 40th founding anniversary held at Lakeshore Tent, Taguig City.

Out of the 17 nominees from all the Local Government Units (LGUs) in the region, Justin Dale O. Dela Cruz from Malabon City was awarded as the Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Child 2018 during the awarding ceremony. He received cash prize and a plaque.

The competition aims to recognize exemplary Pantawid children who serve as excellent examples in their households, schools, and communities. It also aims to encourage children to be active citizens by complying with the conditions of the program.

Candidates of the regional search must be part of a family-beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program aged 10 to 14 in order to qualify. The nominee must be enrolled, compliant with the school attendance requirement of the program and has 90 percent school attendance with good scholastic standing and no grades below the passing mark, fully-immunized and dewormed twice for 6 to 14 years old.

Nominees were judged based on their behaviour and practice, talent, intelligence and wit, community and school participation, presence and appearance during a two-day screening and evaluation conducted by a panel of judges composed of representatives from the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children-NCR (RCWC-NCR).

Patrick Jhastine T. Abe of Mandaluyong City, Mayline Anne S. Legaspi of Valenzuela, and Maxine Makakua of Manila were awarded 3rd runner-up, 2nd runner-up, and 1st runner-up respectively. The regional winner, along with the other three winners, will represent NCR during the National Children’s Congress that will be held in November during the celebration of Children’s Month.

Meanwhile, Luisito Ponciano of Valenzuela City and Veronica Saludar from Las Piñas City were hailed as the Ginoo at Bb. Pantawid Pamilya NCR 2018, respectively. The winners of the competition each received cash prize and a plaque.

They were selected because they were recognized as Gender and Development (GAD) champions within their respective communities.

The event did not only highlight women’s vital role in the process of development but also emphasized that women and men are equally given the chance to exhibit empowerment through participation to different activities, be it community-based, productive or reproductive; paid or unpaid.

Representatives from the NCR Pantawid Regional Project Management Office and officials from Men Oppose Violence Everywhere (MOVE) selected the top 5 Ginoos and Binibinis who were awarded during the program.

The winners will be advocates of women empowerment and gender equality within their respective communities and will also be representatives to local activities. ######

The Philippines is known as a treasure trove of culture. It boasts a very diverse culture that is scattered around its 7,641 islands, waiting to be fully showcased to the world.

Indigenous Peoples are the foundation of this rich tapestry of culture. According to the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Indigenous Peoples or IPs is defined as an ascribed group of people or homogenous societies that maintained long-established traditional customs, traditions and other cultural traits and resisted influences of colonization, foreign religions and other culture. Around seventeen (17) million Indigenous Peoples belonging to more than one hundred fifty (150) ethno linguistic groups that can be found in different provinces in the archipelago.

However, despite a constitutional guarantee and the passage of a special law for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in the Philippines or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), IPs and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) still experience discrimination that suppresses basic rights and development.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has increased its effort to reach the sectors of the society in most need of its programs and services, including the IP sector. The Modified Conditional Cash Transfer under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program for IPs was launched to target provision of support services to IPs.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program provides cash grants to poor households including IPs with children 0-18 years old provided they comply with the conditions of the program such as sending their children to school, bringing them for regular check-ups at their respective health centers and attending Family Development Sessions.

The Modified Conditional Cash Transfer under the Pantawid Pamilya for Indigenous Peoples was created to match the culture and traditions of IPs and ICCs.

To further support the IP sector and in observance of the National Indigenous Peoples Month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program held an event entitled “Buwan ng Katutubong Pilipino: Ipagbunyi at Ipakilala ang Sining at Kultura ng Katutubong Pinoy”  on October 21, 2018 at Elan Hotel, San Juan City to celebrate the National Indigenous Peoples Month.

The program has been supporting the advocacy of IP empowerment and recognizes their share in the national development since it began. Hence, the activity aims to appreciate their contribution to the implementation of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and promote unity amongst them.

About one hundred seventy (170) program members from the cities of Pasay, Taguig, Paranaque and Manila that migrated in the National Capital Region (NCR) in search for greener pasture participated in

the event. Pantawid’s Regional IP Focal Person, King Reynan Heres, estimated that 3% of the program’s partner beneficiaries are identified to belong in different IP communities.

During the program, Mr. Heres gave a lecture on the current situation of the Indigenous Peoples and some of the common issues they face being a migrant in an urban area like NCR.

Another highlight of the event is the discussion of the the contribution of IP Members to the program. During this segment, participants were divided into groups and were asked to draw their aspirations and how to obtain it as a contribution to the goals of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

The rest of the program featured different traditional recreational activities such as “Kadang Kadang” and “Malong race”. In “Kadang Kadang”, players have to step on and balance on coconut shells and race to the finish line.

Different IP groups also showcased their dancing, singing and theatrical performances during the succesful event.

DSWD-NCR Assistant Regional Director for Operations Edna J. Sacedor raises a toast for the exited Pantawid Pamilya family-beneficaries.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD NCR) commemorated the 10^th year of implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the region with an event that showcased the stories of beneficiaries who exited or waived from the program.

The activity entitled “Toast for Success” aimed to highlight the stories of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who have waived or exited from the program after determining that they have reached self-sufficient level of well-being.

“Lubos ang kagalakan ng ahensya sapagkat makikita ang positibong resulta ng programa sa pamamagitan ng mga benepisyaryong nakatatawid sa kahirapan at napauunlad ang pamumuhay ng kanilang pamilya,” DSWD NCR Assistant Regional Director Edna J. Sacedor said.

Social Welfare and Development Indicators, a yearly monitoring of Pantawid Pamilya grantees by DSWD, assess the level of well-being of family beneficiaries-from survival, subsistence, and self-sufficiency.

According to SWDI, family beneficiaries who have attained economic sufficiency and social adequacy are considered to have reached a self-sufficient level of well-being. Economic sufficiency refers to the employable skills of members, employment and salary, source of income, membership to social security and access to financial institutions. Meanwhile, social adequacy is measured through the members’s health condition, nutrition and education, access to safe drinking water and sanitary toilet facility, house construction and ownership, and awareness of social issues.

Around 20 family-beneficiaries who have exited or waived from the program were recognized during the activity and were awarded certificates.  Several former members of the program also gave testimonies about the life-changing impact of the program.

Ma. Antonieth Cipriano from Navotas City, a solo parent who was under the program for four years before exiting, shared her insight about Pantawid Pamilya.

“Ang programa pong ito ng gobyerno ay nagbibigay ng bagong buhay. Natulungan ako ng programa na maitawid ang mga anak ko mula sa kahirapan sa pamamagitan ng pag-aaral.”

With the help of the program, Mrs. Cipriano is now working as a Social Welfare Assistant in DSWD-NCR. Before becoming a member, she was unemployed and had a difficult time finding a job and providing for her children’s needs. Now, her eldest daughter finished her college education and is employed. Her second child is set to graduate Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education Major in Mathematics next year, while her youngest child is a Grade 12 student.

With the theme, “Ang Pagpapakilala at Pagkilala sa Natatanging Benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya”, the activity was also conducted in observance of the International Day for Overcoming Poverty.  The celebration is in line with the program’s goal of breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. It is also consistent with DSWD’s core organizational outcome to improve the well-being of poor families.

Partner government agencies such as the Local Government Units (LGUs), Department of Health and Department of Education were part of the celebration.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a program of the national government implemented through the DSWD in cooperation with LGUs and NGAs. The program invests in health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 18 and below. ###