Mapagmahal sa pamilya, responsible, matalino, masipag, at handang kayanin ang lahat ng pagsubok sa buhay maabot lamang ang kanyang mga pangarap: ito ang mga katangiang isinasalarawan si Mark John L. Samson, labinlimang (15) taon gulang, Grade 7 at kasalukuyang nag-aaral sa Antonio A. Maceda Integrated School sa Lungsod ng Maynila. Siya ay miyembro ng Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF) ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.  

Sa murang kaisipan ay maagang namulat si Mark John “MJ” sa kahirapan ng buhay. Ayon sa kanya, nanirahan sila sa may riles ng tren bago sila naisama sa programa ng MCCT-HSF. Batid niya na nahihirapan ang kanyang ina sa sitwasyon nila dahil wala na siyang kinagisnang ama simula noong sanggol pa lamang siya.

Bilang panganay ng kanilang pamilya, naranasan ni Mark noong anim na taong gulang pa lamang siya na manilbihan sa isang manukan para may maitulong sa kanyang pamilya. Ang kanyang maliit na kinikita ay pinambibili nya ng pagkain para sa kanyang ina at mga kapatid. Naranasan din niya na mangalakal sa madaling-araw para may maitulong sa kanyang ina noong mga panahon na mag-isa itong nagtataguyod sa kanilang pamilya.

Magmula nang nag-aral si MJ ay tinatak niya sa kanyang puso at isip na kailangan niyang magpursige sa pag-aaral kahit sobrang hirap ng sitwasyon nila at nakakaranas sila ng pinansyal na kakulangan. Siya din ay naging masipag sa mga gawain nya sa eskwelahan upang maiparamdam niya sa kanyang ina na siya ay nag-aaral ng mabuti at matuwa ito.

Simula nang siya ay nasa unang antas pa lamang ay nagpamalas na si Mark ng angking galing at talino. Lagi siyang nakakatanggap ng medalya at sertipiko bilang nangungunang estudyante sa kanilang klase sa iba’t ibang antas. Isa din siyang manlalaro ng taekwondo sa kanilang eskwelahan sa kasalukuyan.

Nagsusumikap si MJ na makapagtapos sa pag-aaral para matulungan ang kanyang pamilya at maging isang magiting na pulis. Nagpapasalamat siya sa programa ng MCCT-HSF dahil para sa kanya, ito ang naging simula ng pagkakaroon ng direksyon nila sa buhay. Ito rin ang nagsilbing gabay upang magpatuloy siya sa pag-aaral at maging maayos ang kanilang pamilya.

Nanay Dato (left) making a twined bag while Tatay Juan (right) makes a twined wallet.

On April 2017, the Gender and Development office of Muntinlupa City conducted the livelihood skills training in handcrafted twine making (bags and wallet). The City Links coordinated with Poblacion Livelihood for the conduct of training during one of the Family Development Session (FDS). Among these members, 13 attended the training on twine making.

One of the trainees was Rosario Dato, a Set 6A Pantawid Pamilya member who was registered as part of the program on November 2012. She was also elected as a Parent Leader who voluntary served from 2014 to 2017. Nanay Dato, as she is fondly called, started making bags, wallets, and other products made of twine after the training.

Nanay Dato earned approximately P35.00-P50.00 for each wallet and P500-P900.00 depending on the type and design of each bags.  In order to make 10-20 wallets or one to two bags (depending on the size), twine straw which costs around P 50.00-P70.00 and the twine hook priced at P50.00 were required.

Her husband, Juan, also helped her in making the products. On several occasions, he was the one designing the bags and wallets. In a span of one year, they earned P10, 000 from making twine products and with a starting capital of only P500.00.

As of today, approximately 1,400 Pantawid Pamilya members have learned twine making through the Family Development Session in Barangay Poblacion. Thirty members were trained so far and they serve as Resource Persons for training other Pantawid beneficiaries and most of them sell their own products for additional income.

With the help of the Gender and Development Office and Barangay Livelihood Program, the Twine Making Training is implemented also in other barangays including Sucat and Tunasan with 276 Pantawid Pamilya members. The trainers will also be tapped as Resource Persons in teaching twine making to MCCT members and other parent groups in different barangays in Muntinlupa City.

The Muntinlupa team envisions the city will become the Twine Making Capital of the National Capital Region with Pantawid Pamilya members as the main shareholders. They also see the Dato Family as one of the members that will become a role model to other beneficiaries.

Pantawid Pamilya members learning the basics in handcrafted twine making.

Ayon nga sa kasabihan: “Walang nag-uumpisa sa malaki.” Si Ginang Francisca Dela Cruz ay isang Solo Parent at nagsumikap upang maabot ang kanyang mga pangarap sa buhay sa pamamagitan ng pag-iimpok. Sino nga ba ang mag-aakala na sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pagtatiyaga ay lalago ang kanyang munting negosyo ng higit pa sa kanyang inaasahan?

Si Francisca ay nakatira sa siyudad ng Pulang Lupa Dos sa Las Piñas. Kasama niya ang kanyang mga anak na sina Francis Mike at Lance David Sadsad na sa kasalukuyan ay parehong nag-aaral. Ang isa niyang anak ay nabibilang sa Special Education Class, isang uri ng edukasyon na para sa mga may kapansanan na mga bata na may kapasidad na matuto.

Mag-isang itinataguyod Francisca ang pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan ng kanyang pamilya sa pamamagitan ng kanyang kita sa sari-sari store na kanyang naipundar sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pag-iipon.  

Bago naging  matagumpay sa buhay ang pamilya nila Francisca at magkaroon ng sariling pagkakakitaan na sari-sari store ay nag-umpisa siya bilang isang miyembro ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program noong 2014. Siya ay naninirahan noon sa may tahanan ng kanyang nakatatandang kapatid kung saan ay siya ang nagsilbing katiwala sa itinayo nitong negosyong patubigan. Batid noon ng kanyang kapatid ang paghihirap na pinagdaraanan ng kanyang pamilya dahil nga sa pagtataguyod ni Francisca dito ng mag-isa. Dahil dito ay bukas-palad nitong inalok na pansamantalang  manirahan sa kanilang tahanan ang pamilya at maging katiwala sa munti nitong negosyo.

Sinisikap ni Francisca na itaguyod ang kanyang pamilya sa pamamagitan ng kakaunting kinikita nya sa patubigan. Ang kapatid ni Francisca at ang kanyang mga anak ay hinahayaang gumamit ng tubig at kuryente ng walang kapalit na halaga gayundin sa kanilang pagkain sa pang-araw-araw. Siya ay kumikita ng tatlong libong piso (P3,000) kada buwan at ang kakaunting kita nya dito ay kanyang pinagkakasya para sa pangangailangan ng kanyang pamilya  at ang natitira ay napupunta sa pag-iimpok.

Malaki ang pasasalamat ni Francisca sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program sapagkat naging daan ito upang maiangat ang kanilang antas ng pamumuhay. Para sa kanya, ito ay naging daan upang siya ay makapag-ipon at makapag-umpisa ng maliit na negosyo. Ang natatanggap niyang cash grants para sa mga bata ay inilalaan niya para sa pag-aaral at pagpapanatili ng malusog na pangangatawan ng kanyang mga anak. Natuto siya kung paano magsumikap sa buhay. Tinuruan siya ng tamang pamamaraan ng pag-aalaga sa mga anak at nalaman din niya ang mga karapatan ng isang Solo Parent.

Ang munting mensahe ni Ginang Francisca sa mga kasalukuyang miyembro ng programa na katulad niya na may kakayahan nang itaguyod ang kanilang pamilya at nakaluluwag na sa buhay dahil sa mga tulong na naiabot na ng Programa ay maging matapat at matutong mag-impok, malaki man o maliit. Higit sa lahat, pinaalalahanan niya na huwag silang makakalimot na dumulog sa Maykapal.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) launched the Third Kalinga Caravan at the Tennis Court of Barangay Sta. Lucia, District V, Quezon City on September 24, 2018.

The Caravan was spearheaded by the Department through the Social Marketing Office in cooperation with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Operations Office 4, Regional Social Pension Program Management Office, Protective Services Program, Crisis Intervention Unit, Office of the Undersecretary for Luzon Affairs and the Barangay Council of Sta. Lucia, District V Quezon City.

Regional Director, Mr. Vincent Andrew T. Leyson gave his opening remarks to welcome clients as well as to commend DSWD-NCR’s staff facilitating the caravan. Mr. Edwin S. Morata, Social Welfare Officer III and Officer-In-Charge of Emergency Assistance Section-Crisis Intervention gave orientation with regard to the assistance that can be availed under the Protective Services Program while Mr. Alwin Mancilla, Project Development Officer II of Regional Social Pension Section and Ms. Helen M. Pereyra, Social Welfare Officer III and Officer-In-Charge of Lingap Sa Masa provide orientations on Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens and Libreng Gamot Para sa Masa, respectively.

A total of 793 clients were served during the Caravan. Two hundred forty seven (247) Senior Citizen were interviewed and assessed by Social Workers for possible inclusion in the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens while 546 beneficiaries received assistance such as medical, educational and burial.

The “Kalinga Caravan” is an information caravan that aims to orient constituents of identified Barangay of the Programs and Services of the DSWD as well as to bring the services to the community in line with the Departments’ thrust and priority. ###

The Local Goverment Units, Academe, National Government Agencies and Non-Government Organizations attend the Regional Consultation Dialogue for the advocacy and promotion of Listahanan 2 Database

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) through the National Household Targeting Office (NHTO) conducted a Regional Consultation Dialogue on September 18-21, 2018 at Jade Hotel and Suites, Chino Roces Ave. Makati City.

The dialogue aims to introduce and advocate the use of the Listahanan II database to the representatives from Local Government Units (LGUs), Academe, National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in NCR.

Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are using geographic targeting, household assessment and validation. Ms. Mary Anne F. Santos, a Social Welfare Officer II from DSWD-NCR’s Policy and Plans Unit discussed the Poverty Situational in the National Capital Region based on the results from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Mr. Amado G. Suarez, Project Development Officer IV of Listahanan also presented the results of the variables of the 2015 Proxy Means Test (PMT) Model. The information can be used by national government agencies and other social protection stakeholders for the identification and selection of potential beneficiaries for poverty alleviation and social protection programs. The dialogue also served as a forum for the NHTO to address how to access and utilize the Listahanan database as well as some of the issues in gaining access. Aside from this, participants were also provided with essential information on data privacy policy.

The third round of validation for Listahanan will be conducted on 2019. ###

Some say it’s easier to find reasons for people to be divided rather than finding a common ground. These differences,  which often lead to a divide in opinion, result in individuals taking their own course of action rather than working with others. Such is the case of the community from one of the areas in Barangay Pasong Putik.

Members of the community from this barangay have their respective gardens. They had their own malunggay trees planted in their own backyards. For years, they did not think of working with others and chose to tend to their own gardens.

During one of the Family Development Sessions of the members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the area, the importance of establishing communal garden was introduced to the attendees. This opened their eyes on the beauty of coming together and building a community of farmers who would not only help the environment but also provide for the daily needs of their family.

One of the members said she was a caretaker of a land near her house that was not being used for quite some time already and suggested that the area could be a feasible venue for the initiative. Eager to start their joint communal garden, they communicated with the owner of the small lot who thankfully allowed them to use the area.

After the preparations were made, a  group of 39 Pantawid Pamilya Members in Barangay Pasong started to establish their own communal garden in the 999 square meters of vacant land in the backyard of one of the members who happens to be the caretaker of the lot located at Lily Feliciano St., Maligaya Park Subdivision, Barangay Pasong Putik, Novaliches, Quezon City.

But despite the availability of a lot to plant in, it was not easy for the farmers to begin the garden. They found it challenging to work together since they were used to working independently. But  with proper facilitation and the growing desire of the people to unite in setting the garden up, they started cleaning the area and worked with other stakeholders for the seedlings that they can use. As months passed and as their plants grow, their relationship also developed.

Out of the gardeners, 36 were females and three of them are males. They worked hand-in-hand and helped each other religiously so that their garden can yield more vegetables.

From having individual gardens, they have come together and recently joined the Regional Search for Pantawid Pamilya Best Gulayan sa Barangay 2018 that was launched by the Department of Social Welfare and Development National Capital Region (DSWD NCR). Even though they were not chosen as one of the final contenders, they continued to work together with high hopes that they will improve and learn ways and strategies that will make them build a better garden.

The gulayan highlighted the efforts of the group in caring for their members. In instances when one member are experiencing personal problems or financial difficulty, the group showed a united front. They also stated that the effects of the gulayan are visible to their children, who are learning to eat healthy meals and are now joining them in urban farming activities.

Currently, the members are constantly learning how to sustain and enhance their gulayan by tapping other stakeholders. Recently, they attended the “The Joy of Urban Farming” training, which taught them about modern techniques in urban gardening. They were very proud of their achievements as they continue to influence other members to also see the importance of having a garden which they consider as a better accomplishment for them as a group.

Indigenous People who are members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program – Modified Conditional Cash Transfer attended an orientation on the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) recently conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) at Best Western Hotel Ermita, Manila.

The event, launched in observance of the celebration of the 2018 International Day of the Philippine Indigenous Peoples, aimed to orient Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) about their rights.

Mr. Renato B. Magnaye from the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) gave a presentation on the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, which recognizes, promotes and protects the rights of IPs and ICCs.

During the event, DSWD-NCR also discussed its interventions and programs in upholding human rights. 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.

Speaking during the event, IP Tribal Parent Leader Aysha Sabral cited how the MCCT program has helped the sector. She said that under the program, children of IP households were safer. Healthcare has become more accessible for them and they have also earned money through the Cash for Work Program.

“Ang laki po ng pinagbago ng aming pamumuhay nang maging miyembro kami ng programa.  Ngayon ay marunong na din kaming makisalamuha sa maraming tao, kasi dati nahihiya kami. Ngayon ay proud po kami at nalaman namin na kaya pala naming makipagsabayan. Kahit Badjao, kaya naman pala,” she added.

Another initiative launched by DSWD-NCR to empower and protect IPs in the region was the Task Force Sama-Bajau. Project Development Officer III Pilar R. Santiago presented the different activities undertaken by the task force in order to promote the welfare of IPs in NCR.

A dialogue between MCCT IP members and officials from DSWD-NCR was facilitated at the end of the event in order to address the different concerns and an issue experienced by the sector. ###

As part of the effort of the Department of Social Welfare and Development- National Capital Region to improve the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the agency conducted a Partnership Building Summit on September 5, 2018 at Makati City Hall.

The activity, entitled “Tulong-tulong sa Pag-unlad Program Partnership Building”, served as a venue for DSWD-NCR to establish partnerships with Non-Government Organizations, Private Organizations and the business sector through their Corporate Social Responsibility Arm and encourage them to engage in the implementation of the Program.

Planning Officer III Lily Demabildo presented a poverty situationer in the National Capital Region. It gave an overall view of the current economic and financial condition of the population in the region.

A video presentation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program’s history, process, and objectives was showed to orient the attending organizations and stakeholders.

In his presentation, Regional Program Coordinator of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Joel D. Cam gave a deeper insight into the program’s coverage and scope of activities. Afterward, he discussed the potential areas of partnership that the participants of the event could be involved in.

Another objective of the event is to present and highlight the commonalities of programs and services provided by the Local Government Unit, DSWD-NCR and existing partners in order to complement programs in addressing the identified gaps in the community.

DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson underlined the importance of harmonizing the different initiatives and programs that are geared towards helping the marginalized sector. “We are encouraging each one to be our partner, so your resources can be used in a way na mas matutulungan yung mga Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries,” he said. He also called on the attending NGOs, POs and the business sector to help out in the implementation of other DSWD projects and programs in regions outside NCR.

Mr. Leyson added that aside from monetary aid, there are competencies or technical expertise that could be shared with Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries such as financial literacy and job placement.

Majority of the attending organizations expressed their willingness to explore potential partnerships with DSWD-NCR.  ###