The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII conducted the Inter-Agency Services and Information Caravan for Children, Families, and Indigenous Peoples in Street Situations (CFIPSS) at Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City on December 21, 2022.

The activity is in partnership with the different national government agencies (NGAs) like Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Commission on Population (POPCOM), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA),

Partner civil society organizations (CSOs) like Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and Feed the Children also supported the activity.

“Ang araw na ito ay simbolo ng pag-asa at pagmamahal ngayong papalapit na ang kapaskuhan na bunga ng pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan ng mga iba’t ibang sangay ng pamahalaan (Today’s event symbolizes hope and love of Christmas which is the fruit of unity and cooperation of the different national government agencies),” said Undersecretary for Social Welfare and Development Maria Salome P. Navarro in her message.

She added that under the new administration, the Department will increase its efforts in alleviating the situation in the lives of children, families, and indigenous peoples at-risk in the streets.

A total of 500 beneficiaries received hygiene kits, home life kits, noche buena packs, educational assistance, livelihood assistance, and school kit. They also availed of the medical and dental checkup, COVID-19 vaccination, national id registration, hair grooming, and jobs fair.

As part of the services offered by PSA, the 41 Ati children from the City of Naga, Cebu received their birth certificates while 57 Sama-Bajau children from Alaska, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City processed their birth registration.

The information caravan aimed to provide appropriate services, responsive programs, and share IEC materials to profiled CFIPSS beneficiaries specifically for highly urbanized areas like Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City.

The activity was also attended by Undersecretary for Standards and Capacity Building Group Denise Florence B. Bernos-Bragas, Assistant Secretary for Office of the Secretary Concerns Irene B. Dumlao, Assistant Secretary for Visayas Affairs Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre, DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero, and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Q. Chan.

The activity is part of the “Pangkabuhayan at Pamaskong Handog” of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos for Indigenous Peoples and Children in street situations. ###

(32) Views