A total of 41 individuals arrived in Cebu and Bohol from Metro Manila on June 2, 2022, through the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2P) implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a program that aims to decongest urban poor communities and send families back to their home province.

After two years of global pandemic, vulnerable families are still not able to cope with the ill effects of COVID-19, worsening their situations with loss of income, unstable livelihood opportunities, and risk of getting infected in urban areas.

The returned families are part of the second batch of returnees from last year’s dispatch from Manila. Representatives of the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), together with DSWD Field Office VII, welcomed families on their homecoming before their final send-off to their communities in Cebu City, Bogo City, and Tabuelan.

DSWD’s help from case management to send-off, transitory cash assistance to help them in their transition, and livelihood grants for start-up capital will also be given to the returned families.

In his welcome message, Assistant Regional Director for Administration Antonio R. Dolaota shares the excitement with the families now that they return home. “We, at DSWD, are very happy to serve you with assistance from the national government.”

Aside from the send-off, returned families received agribusiness kits from the agriculture department to help ensure food security and agricultural productivity once they reintegrate back into their community.

Respective local government units are also present to welcome the returnees.

The representative from Tabuelan LGU announced that as part of their reintegration program, members of the returned families will be enrolled for training under the Tabuelan Center for Health and Wellness.

By the end of 2022, the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2P) is expected to provide support to a total of 200 families. ###

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