Various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) who are partners in the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) heed the call of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VII (DSWD) in seeking the provisions of school supplies for the Bata Balik Eskwela advocacy campaign.

Representatives from Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (second and third from right) flanked by DSWD-7 employees donate school supplies for the Pantawid Pamilya’s Bata Balik Eskwela advocacy campaign.

Among those partner CSOs are Cebu People’s Multipurpose Cooperative which donated crayons, notebooks and bath soaps; Personal Collection, Inc. gave notebooks, ballpens, soaps and baby wash; Dumaguete Cathedral Credit Cooperative Multipurpose Cooperative provided 50 sets of notebooks; and Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. donated various school supplies worth Php 5,000.00.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. also donated bags with school supplies while the ABS-CBN Bantay Bata Foundation gave 150 boxes of biscuits.

The DSWD Field Office VII’s Social Welfare Employees Credit Cooperative (SWECC) donated 200 notebooks and 200 ball pens.

DSWD Field Office VII employees also placed their donations of school supplies such as ballpens, pencils, notebook, pad papers, sharpeners, rulers, and scissors in the donation box located in the regional office.

The school supplies will be given to those 4Ps school children who stopped but enrolled this school year 2019-2020.

“We are thankful for the various school supplies that we received from our partner CSOs and within our DSWD-7 family. This will help a lot in our united effort in bringing Pantawid Pamilya children back to school and help them continue pursuing their education,” said DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala.

The Pantawid Pamilya’s Bata Balik Eskwela campaign aims to remind the children beneficiaries to enroll back to school so that they will fully utilize the program benefits. This campaign also seeks to inculcate in the minds of the children the importance and value of education in their lives and future.

The Pantawid Pamilya children are one of the stakeholders of the program and are responsible in complying with one of the main conditions of 4Ps, which is to attend school every school year.

“Through the program, the DSWD has given these poor children and their families a chance to a better future so it is really important that they should continue and finish their education,” Geamala added. ###

Three women, all housewives who all survived the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol on October 15, 2013.

Anita Enriquez (center) poses together with DSWD-7 Assistant Regional for Administration Grace Q. Subong (second from left) and other officials from DSWD-7, Habitat for Humanity and Municipal Government of Buenavista during the MCSAP turn-over ceremony.

Imagine them living with their families in makeshift shacks because there is nothing left after the occurrence of that deadly quake. Before the earthquake hit Bohol, they have their own house and living a normal life in their respective communities.

Despite the situation they were in, Anita, Gina, and Natividad were hopeful that one day they would be able to rise above the rubbles and live a normal and better life for their families.

The Modified Core Shelter Program (MCSAP) gave hope to the three women’s wishes.  It is a program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which provides environment-friendly, structurally strong shelter units built onsite that can withstand up to 220-kph wind velocity, at least intensity four earthquakes and other natural disasters.

“Malipayon kaayo ko nga nahataga na kanamo kining balay. Naa na gyud mi kapuy-an. Wala baya gyud mi laing kakuhaan para makabarog mi og balay.  Lisod kayo kay pangisda ra among pangita (I am happy that the house is already given to us. We have our own place now to live in. We do not have other sources to build a house because we are merely relying on fishing),” shared Anita Enriquez, a recipient of the MCSAP in Buenavista, Bohol.

“Nalipay gyud ko kay nakapuyo na gyud mi nga kumpleto na gyud ang balay, dili pareha sauna nga nagtabon-tabon lang mi, nag barong-barong lang mi nga kanang makita pa gyud among atop. Ampingan gyud ko ni. Dili nako ni ibaligya, para ra gyud ni sa akong pamilya (I am really happy that we are living in a fully-equipped home now. Unlike before, we were only sheltered under a makeshift shack. I will take care and will not sell this house. This is only for my family),” Gina Canino, one of the recipients of the core shelter in Sagbayan, Bohol, expressed.

Mrs. Natividad Caguisa poses together with the representatives from DSWD, Habitat and local government unit in front of her house, which is one of the modified core shelter units turned over in Loon, Bohol.

Mrs. Natividad Caguisa of Loon, Bohol lives with her paralytic husband is overjoyed in owning the house. She said, “Mapasalamaton kayo kami nga na-turnover na gayud kini sa amoa kining balay, hamugaway na among pagpuyo (We are happy that the house is now given to us, it is comfortable for us to live here).”

The beneficiaries of the core shelter project are also proud because they had their share in the construction of the houses.

Gina Canino watches as officials from DSWD-7, Habitat for Humanity and Municipal Government of Sagbayan toss the ribbon during the MCSAP blessing and turn-over ceremony.

Like the other beneficiaries, Anita, Gina and Natividad, also provided bamboo slots or “lipak” for alternative walling, prepared the lot, helped in the excavation for zocalo and septic tank, hauling of materials, labor-sweat equity and the installation of connection for electricity and water supply.

Three women survived and persevered the impact of the disaster. Wished to have a better life. Helped rebuild their own houses together with DSWD, Habitat for Humanity, Provincial and Municipal government units.

Now, their families have occupied the new shelters where they feel safe and comfortable. ###

Some beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) programs and services like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center II (AVRC), Home for Girls, Regional Haven and the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) attend the pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2019 Forum held today at a hotel in Cebu City.

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista provides updates on the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster during the Tatak ng Pagbabago 2019: Pre-SONA Forum held today in Cebu City.

This is the second leg of the three-part fora which aims to trumpet the latest achievements of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration ahead of his fourth SONA on July 22.

“Nalipay ko nga gi-imbitar ko nga maka-attend aning okasyon miskin usa ra ako ka yano nga tawo ug makakita sa mga dagkong opisyales sa atong gobyerno (I am happy that I was invited to attend this occasion despite being an ordinary citizen and I was able to see high officials of the government),” said Genoveva “Ebeng” Castro, a 4Ps partner-beneficiary from Buenavista, Bohol.

Genoveva is also a program-participant of SLP which provided her a livelihood training and a new handloom machine for her raffia weaving business.

“Nindot nga makakita ta ani aron masayud ta unsay nabuhat sa gobyerno (It is good that we have witnessed this activity for us to know the updates of what the government has been doing and its accomplishments),” added Ebeng.

Another beneficiary who attended the Pre-SONA is Ma. Luna Furog of Poblacion Talibon Association for Sustainable Livelihood in Talibon, Bohol.

She has the same remarks as Ebeng’s and expressed that these good accomplishments of the government shall continue.

“Mas nindot nga mapadayun kining mga programa ug madungagan pa ang angayan matabangan (It would be better if these programs will continue and will add more beneficiaries especially those who are in dire need),” Ma. Luna said.

The Poblacion Talibon Association for Sustainable Livelihood was awarded 2^nd place in the Gawad Usbong under the market category of micro-enterprise development (MD) track during the Sulong Bayanihan 2019 of the SLP.

Before the start of the Pre-SONA, Francisco Elardo, a 4Ps partner-beneficiary from Badian, Cebu was interviewed by DZRB-AM Radyo Pilipinas via phone patch.

He shared how 4Ps has helped in sending his children to school.

“Dako ang natabang sa Pantawid sa among pamilya labi na sa pagpaeskwela sa akong mga anak apan kabalo ko nga kini abag ra gayud ug maninguha gihapon ako isip padre de familia uban sa akong asawa (Pantawid greatly helps our family especially in sending my children to school but I know that this program is just an assistance and I should continue to persevere as the head of the family together with my wife),” said Francisco.

The Elardo family is the 2019 Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya regional winner.

Aside from Ebeng, Ma. Luna and Francisco, selected beneficiaries from Cebu City and Mandaue City also attended the forum.

Some Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Sustainable Livelihood Program beneficiaries attend the Tatak ng Pagbabago 2019: Pre-SONA Forum.

As the Chairperson of the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster (HDPRC), DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista reported the updates of the HDPRC.

“Investment in human capital development is an essential factor in socioeconomic growth and for the past three years, it is with great pleasure to inform you, my fellow government officials and our dear beneficiaries, that the Duterte Administration’s commitment to achieving “Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay” has gained traction and is now being felt by our fellow Filipinos,” said Secretary Bautista in his opening speech.

He also presented about the significant drop of poverty incidence in the first half of 2018 by six point one percent as compared to the same period in 2015. According to Sec. Bautista, more Filipino families are able to meet basic food needs as subsistence incidence decreased to six point two percent in the first half of 2018.

“Also, the proportion of Filipino individuals described as poor has settled at twenty-one percent of the country’s total population, down from twenty-seven point six percent reported during the same period of 2015,” Bautista expressed.

“Therefore, in just three years, we can already see the fruits of our efforts. Poverty has decreased substantially by focusing on four priority areas – education, health, social protection and rural poverty – which were identified by the President during the SONA in 2018,” Sec. Bautista reported.

Aside from Secretary Bautista’s report on HDPRC, Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Officer in Charge (OIC) Janet Abuel of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) provided updates on the Participatory Governance Cluster (PGC).

After the presentations of the accomplishments of the two clusters, secretaries of the various national government agencies under the HDPRC and the PGC answers questions from the audience during the open forum.

To end the forum, a video closing message of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was shown. In his message, he expressed his appreciation of the unwavering commitment of each Cabinet Cluster and called all government agencies to continue working together over the next 3 years to bring about brighter future for the nation. ###

An organic farming advocate family in southwest Cebu emerged as this year’s Regional Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VII (DSWD-7) announced the family of Francisco and Marilou Elardo from Brgy. Taytay, Badian as the winner in the 2019 regional tilt.

Francisco and Marilou Elardo happily pose together with their two children Reese and Christian in their home in Badian, Cebu.

Francisco’s inclination to farming started after he attended a seminar on organic farming in 2010.

“Nakat-unan nako sa seminar nga dili kinahanglan mogamit og spray nga adunay mga kemikals (I learned from the seminar that it is not necessary to spray the plants with chemicals),” Francisco said matter-of-factly.

Francisco immediately applied what he learned from the seminar and fortunately he was right on his decision to pursue organic farming. Together with his wife Marilou, and their two children, Reese and Christian, he planted a variety of vegetables like alugbati, eggplant, sweet potato, string beans, pechay, patola and malunggay.

He also grew fruit bearing trees like guyabano, papaya, tambis, guava, coconut and avocado.

In 2013, he made his backyard garden as a demonstration farm because many people have visited his backyard garden for them to know about organic farming. In fact, many high school and college students visit his demonstration farm to learn more and see an actual organic farm.

“Miski kapoy, malipay gihapon ko mag-demo sa mga estudyante kay ganahan man sad ko nga mapa-ambit sa lain akong nahibaw-an kabahin sa organic farming (Even though I am tired, I am happy to demonstrate to the students because I love to share what I have learned about organic farming),” he said.

If there are visitors, Francisco would discuss the natural farming system like indigenous microorganism, fermented plant juice and fermented fruit juice.

They also have a small fish pond in their backyard garden.

“Sa panahon nga wala pay ani, kining mga tilapia maoy among sud-anon ug dili man pud mi magkalisud palit og bugas kay naa naman rice subsidy gikan sa Pantawid (During lean season, these tilapias serve as our viand and we do not worry about rice since we already have the rice subsidy from Pantawid),” he added.

Francisco admitted that he did not expect to win the contest.

“Miskin walay contest ug unsa pa na diha, maninguha gihapon kami isip ginikanan nga makahatag kami maayong kaugmaon sa among mga anak ug makatabang pud sa uban pinaagi sa pagpananom (Even if there is no contest or whatsoever, we still need to strive as parents so that we can provide a good future for our children and also to help others through farming),” he said.

The Elardo family will receive a cash prize and a plaque of recognition during the DSWD-7’s Panaghiusa Festival to be held later this year.

They will also represent region 7 during the National Pantawid Pamilya Family Day on September 28-30, 2019 in Metro Manila.

The family of Nicolas and Elbe Bohol of Brgy. Poblacion, Mabinay, Negros Oriental placed second.

The families of Angel and Julita Batac of Brgy. San Isidro, Balilihan, Bohol and Dante and Ria Taroc of Brgy. Liloan, Maria, Siquijor garnered the third and fourth place, respectively.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 18 and below. It is implemented by the DSWD together with other government agencies to include the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DoH).

It provides cash grants to compliant household beneficiaries with health grant worth Php 500 and educational grants worth Php 300 and Php 500.00 each to the children studying in elementary and high school, respectively. The beneficiaries also receive a rice subsidy in the form of cash amounting to Php 600.00. ###

The increased awareness of the importance of the Listahanan data in planning for programs and services, more agencies and institutions have expressed to have these data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

One of these agencies is the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in region 7.

Mr. Hillton John V. Edrial and Mr. Donald Rey Dejacto, NHTS – 7 officers gave the Listahanan data to the DOLE – 7 Data Protection Officer (DPO) Mr. Crepon A. Dicdican II with the presence of DOLE-7 Regional Director Ms. Salome O. Siaton.

According to Mr. Dicdican, the data from Listahanan will be useful in their advocacy against child labor in the region 7.

Mr. Dejacto installed the data on the assigned server together with Mr. Dicdican after the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) were signed and other requirements were completed.

This is in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 implemented by the National Privacy Commission (NPC) to protect personal information of anyone and uphold the rights to privacy by regulating the processing of personal information.

DSWD’s Listahanan or National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) is a database and an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in the country. ###

“The problem of poverty is so complicated, and to solve it, we need a lot of partnership. Part of educating our students is also to learning how to reach out and do extension service so that what they learned they could apply to the community,” expressed Fr. Francisco T. Estepa, SVD, President, Holy Name University (HNU). He said it is good that DSWD is there to guide HNU how to reach out in a particular community in Corella, Bohol. The agency will not only provide guidance but also resources with a lot of expertise from DSWD in reaching out to our adopted community,” added Estepa.

Holy Name University Fr. Francisco T. Estepa, SVD, shakes hand with Regional SLP Program Coordinator Rizalina L. Patindol as a sign of strong partnership between DSWD and HNU for the welfare of the target participants in Corella, Bohol.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) forged a partnership with HNU with the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which took place at the University’s Bates conference room in Tagbilaran City, Bohol early this year.

The DSWD and HNU agreed to partner in improving the quality of life of disadvantaged individuals through this initiative in the municipality of Corella, Bohol particularly in barangays Canapnapan and Tanday.

“The Department aims to strengthen its partnerships with the private and public sectors. The Department particularly the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is looking for partners to help us in implementing our projects,” shared Rizalina L. Patindol, DSWD SLP Regional Program Coordinator.

With this partnership, DSWD-7 and HNU agreed to conduct orientation/briefing on policies and regulations related to the Training Programs on a schedule agreed upon by the parties, pre and post-test to assess the level of competency acquired by the trainees, prepare training design and course contents of specific trainees’ identified needs, a Mode of Verification (MOV) as to the effectiveness of the program – Tracking System, allow the use of HNU laboratories, equipment and facilities for the practicum and hands-on component of the training (e.g. LCD projector, models and measuring device).

Further, HNU agreed to provide the following needs to the target participants in Corella, Bohol: training experts from among its faculty members, staff and students for the Livelihood Skills Training Program and technical assistance in identifying training needs, feasibility study in other DSWD SLP; transportation to staff and students involved and those that are stipulated in the Work and Financial Plan of the program; training needs and materials (e.g. office supplies, printing, tarpaulin printing, printer’s ink) and others that are in the work plan and financial plan.

Also, DSWD and HNU will give the following awards after the target participants have completed the trainings: certificate of training to the trainees who successfully pass and completed the training requirements; certificate of recognition to individuals who have significant contribution to the activities; certificate of participation to all parties involved in the extension project.

To complete the full documentation of the project, HNU agreed to submit a written report of each project in the form of Terminal Report to DSWD-7; prepare publishable articles of completed extension projects for local and international publication subject for review and approval of DSWD.

“We are hopeful that this will be a success in the years to come with the help of the DSWD and with our expertise. We are looking forward to immediately start this endeavor. Our students from the college of Business Accountancy interviewed some of the Nigo weavers in Corella, Bohol and the school staff will conduct a survey for possible markets of these weavers. We are making ways to inspire them with the help of our efforts,” said Engr. Noel Uy, Coordinator for Community Extension, HNU. ###

The participants of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare in Region 7 has embarked on poultry and swine production projects.

These beneficiaries are members of the two (2) associations in four (4) towns of Siquijor, Siquijor.

Remily M. Daniel (left), President and Angelita Balud (right), Treasurer of Cang-asa and Cang-atuyom Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Association of barangay Cang-asa, Siquijor, Siquijor harvest fresh eggs from their poultry farm.

In 2016, the DSWD granted the livelihood assistance to the qualified participants of barangays Cang-asa, Cang-atuyom, Canghunoghunog and Cang-inte. These associations received a total amount of Php 779,000.00 for integrated farming business operations.

Cang-asa and Cang-atuyom SLP Association (SLPA)

The Cang-asa and Cang-atuyom SLPA in the municipality of Siquijor is composed of 46 program participants, all are Pantawid members. It has 5 male and 41 female members who run their poultry livelihood project.

The group was organized in September 2015 and received a 3-day training on Integrated Farming in December of the same year through the assistance of Jave Yurong, the SLP Implementing Project Development Officer (IPDO) and Hyah Josefa Jeliene Ventolero, Municipal Link (ML) of the area.

In 2016, the Department through the SLP granted the amount of Php 437,000 to the association for their business project under the skill training of Micro-enterprise Development (MD) track.

The SLPA officially started their poultry business with 532 ready-to-lay Lohman chickens. The group is renting a 500 square meter lot for Php 500 every quarter under usufruct agreement with a private individual within 10 years. Aside from that, the local government of Siquijor showed support to the association by giving them 9 rolls of barbed wires worth Php 15,000.

The association’s set of officers are: Remily M. Daniel, President (Cang-asa); Maribeth Banguiao, Vice President (Cang-atuyom); Angelita Balud, Treasurer (Cang-asa); Nelee Cabaong, Secretary (Cang-asa) and Susan Looc, Auditor (Cang-asa).

Now, the Cang-asa SLPA has regular customers from Villa Marmarine and Gold View resorts in the municipality.

Canghunoghunog and Cang-inte (CATINOG) SLP Association

The Cang-asa ang Cang-atuyom SLPA, CATINOG SLPA was organized in February 2016 and were trained in Integrated Farming for 3 days in December 2016 by the same workers assigned in the area.

The SLPA is composed of 36 Pantawid beneficiaries with 4 male and 30 female members running the swine production livelihood project.

On April 28, 2016, the Department through the SLP granted the amount of Php 342,000 to CATINOG SLP Association for their swine production business project under the skill training of Micro-enterprise Development (MD) track. The business started with 9 piglets.

The group is renting a 250-square-meter lot for Php 2,000 every quarter under usufruct agreement with a private individual within 10 years. Also, the local government of Siquijor gave 12 rolls of barbed wires at Php 14,400 to CATINOG SLPA.

The business management is headed by the following officers: Vilma Apiag, President (Cang-inte); Warlito Apiag, Vice President (Canghunoghunog); Rinefy Lumactod, Treasurer; Vinalyn Bation, Secretary; Mary Ann Balos, Auditor (they are from Cang-inte).

The participants together with the PDO were trained a simple bookkeeping, financial literary and record keeping during their Family Development Session (FDS) for them to be more guided on the business operations. ###