The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII recently turned over the renovated footbridge to Sama-Bajau community in Sitio Alaska, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

Recipients are the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) partner beneficiaries who belong to the Sama-Bajau tribe, one of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) in Region 7.

The 4Ps partner-beneficiaries formed a group of 14 members to repair the footbridge. The workers who repaired the footbridge received a subsidy through cash-for-work under the 4Ps’ Enhanced Support Services Intervention (ESSI) for 11 working days.

Painted in white, red, blue, and yellow, the repaired footbridge will now provide safe and easy access to the people living in the IP community. 

The Enhanced Support Services Intervention (ESSI) of the 4Ps will ensure that the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Homeless Families, and other vulnerable groups within the 4Ps partner-beneficiaries will achieve self-sufficiency level amidst their existing disadvantages and vulnerabilities.

There will also be other ESSI projects to be turned over this year, like the construction of a tribal hall in Sierra Bullones, capital assistance for rice retailing and store management in Pilar, organic vegetable production in Duero, capital assistance on cattle fattening in Bais City, capital assistance on swine fattening in La Libertad, and construction of material recovery facility in Asturias.

In his acceptance message, Tribal Chieftain Sunny Daomani shared that they will not worry anymore about going out to their stilt houses because of the sturdy footbridge. 

“Dili na kami mahadlok nga molakaw aning taytayan labi na para sa among anak tungod kay napaayo na kini tungod sa atong pagtinabangay (We won’t worry in walking in the footbridge especially for our children because we already repaired it through everyone’s cooperation),” said Sunny Daomani.  

DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero visited the site and led the ceremonial turn over of the footbridge.

“The cooperation of all people means you are serious in addressing the problem in the community, which is an unsafe and unreliable footbridge. So kudos to everyone for your bayanihan and for hard work. I hope that you will maintain the bridge for the safety of community residents, including your families, who use the footbridge,” underscored DSWD-7 Shalaine Marie Lucero in her message to the community.

4Ps is the government’s major poverty alleviation program that invests in health, nutrition, and education of the poor eligible households. The psychosocial and educational components provided through the Family Development Sessions (FDS) lead the beneficiaries to have improved and sustained well-being. The program was institutionalized in 2019 by Republic Act 11310, or the 4Ps Act and implemented through DSWD. ###

 

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