The Local Government Units of Lapulapu City, Cebu and Loon, Bohol recently conducted in two separate occasions their own version of Panaghiusa Festival which they called ‘Convergence Big Day’.
Panaghiusa Festival is the convergence of DSWD’s programs and services created to increase public awareness on the agency’s accomplishments and gains. This advocacy festival aims to showcase the positive impact of DSWD programs and services in the lives of partner-beneficiaries through their success stories.
The City Government of Lapu-Lapu spearheaded the activity on April 17, 2018 while the Municipal Government of Loon had their event on April 11, 2018.
About 1,500 Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries from barangays in Lapu-Lapu City flocked at the Hoops Dome for their first Convergence Big Day.
The City Action Team (CAT) of Lapu-Lapu composed of staff from various DSWD core programs like Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) presented their accomplishments to the participants during the program.
Selected Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries and SLP partner-participants shared their testimonies on how the programs of the government helped alleviate their lives from poverty. The SLP skills training graduates like security guard, welding, food and beverage, call center and housekeeping were likewise recognized during the program.
Expanded Students Grants-in-Aide Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) grantees who recently graduated in their college degrees were also recognized for their educational achievement.
The City Action Team also coordinated with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for the conduct of a job fair and with the Philippine National Police (PNP) for a free medical mission.
“Isip lola sa akong duha ka mga apo, ganahan pud ko nga puhon maka-graduate sila sa college ug makapangita og desinte nga trabaho unya (As a grandmother to my two grandchildren, I would also like to see them graduate in college and find a decent work later on),” Elvira Valiente, 65 years old from Brgy. Mactan, shared how she was inspired by the testimonies especially the
testimony from the ESGP-PA graduate.
Moreover, the Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries in Loon, Bohol had their Convergence Big Day in Brgy. Tangnan Covered Court.
It was a festive day for them since they were able to showcase their talents and skills in different competing categories like jingle making contest, success story writing and draw and tell. The SLP partner-participants also displayed and sold their livelihood products inside the covered court.
DSWD-7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre commended the two LGUs for initiating this activity. She said: “Through the convergence strategy, we could be able to harmonized the implementation of our various programs and services.”
She also said that Convergence is not limited within DSWD but also with other stakeholders like the Local Government Units, other national government agencies, civil society organizations and people’s organizations. ###
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