Being poor did not make the Batacs less of a family. They did not make this a reason to fail to live a satisfying life, a home filled with love and solidarity.

Angel and Julita Batac happily pose together with their children (Angel Nino, Angel Gerald, Julia Ann, Angelo and Maria Joanne) in their home in Balilihan, Bohol.

Julita Batac, 52 and her husband Angel Batac, 53, have been doing all-out effort to sustain the needs of their family in Balilihan, Bohol, especially the education of their 5 children – Angel Nino, Angel Gerald, Julia Ann, Angelo and Maria Joanne.

Raising five children and sending them all to school, the couple went through a whole lot of tough times as they only rely on their income from making natural vinegar out of coconut. Angel as toddy collector would usually climb around 40 coconut trees twice daily just to get the coconut wine. Angel delivers the vinegar to Bohol Quality (BQ) Mall in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The additional income that Julita gets as a member of the Farmer’s Marketing Cooperative has also helped the family. The cooperative has a vegetable farm. The farm’s produce are harvested every Monday and Friday and delivered to BQ mall and other markets in Tagbilaran City.

To further ensure that they could provide more for their children’s school needs, the couple also maintains a small farm of various crops like vegetables, corn, sweet potato and fruits that in some way has helped the family even more. Julita and Angel also raise a breeding boar which they offer for breeding gilt or sow for a fee.

Sometimes they would walk more than three (3) kilometers from home to reach their clienteles needing the boar for breeding their gilt or sow. In spite of Batac family’s financial difficulty they continue to strive to improve their life condition and provide for their children’s education through these livelihoods.

As toddy collector, Angel would usually climb around 40 coconut trees twice daily just to get the coconut wine.

“Isip inahan, ako ang magbudget. Dunay panahon nga lisod kaayong matuman ang mga bayrunon sa eskwelahan sa mga bata mao nga ako naningkamot nga mag backyard/home garden aron nga duna mi makuhaan sa pangsud-an ug ang budget nga gigahin pangpalit og sud-an igahin nalang sa mga kinahanglan sa mga bata sa eskwelahan (As a mother, I do the budgeting, sometimes I have difficulty in paying the school fees of the children on time. Instead of spending viand for the family, we cultivated a backyard garden as source of our food. In doing so, the budget for the viand could now be used for the children’s school needs),” Julita amusingly shared.

For years, Julita and Angel have gone tight scrimping and saving for their children’s future.

Angel, who is a graduate of criminology, chose to make the traditional processing of vinegar for a living to be able to spend more time with his family and be a hands-on parent to his children. Angel values the importance of the regular presence and guidance of the parents to their children, especially when they are still young. He has considered this as a good support system that would protect his family from becoming dysfunctional.

“Kami isip pamilya kanunay mi nga nagpahinumdom sa matag usa kanamo kabahin sa importansya sa pagtinabangay, pagpaambit sa among nagkadaiyang mga ideya ug sa pag-respeto niini panahon man sa kalipay o sa kaguol. Dako sad gayud akong pasalamat nga gihimong panag-ingnan sa akong mga anak ang akong bana nga walay bisyo kay wala man sila mosulod anang mga bisyo nga maoy maka ingon nga madaot ang ilang panglawas ug ang ilang kaugmaon (As a family, we always remind each other the importance of working together, sharing of different ideas and respecting one another at all times. I am also grateful that as they are growing up, our children have been following the example set by their father who has not engaged in any vices that could destroy their health and their future),” expressed Julita.

The Batac family members do not only limit their efforts within their home, but they also extend help to their community through rendering service to the people as active volunteers of the Tzu Chi Foundation, a Taiwanese non-government organization that provides financial and other helpful assistance to the disadvantaged group of people in the community.

Julita and Angel and their children would assist participants of the community activities of Tzu Chi Foundation like the medical missions, rice distribution and others.

After Angel gets the wine in the coconut trees, the family would work together to put this into a plastic container and ready for delivery in a store in Tagbilaran City.

The family is actively involved in their community activities like barangay assemblies, meetings and other gatherings while contribute in keeping their community a better place to live in. As an active member of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Batac family also strives to comply with the conditionalities of the program through attendance in Family Development Sessions which has helped Julita in raising her family and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“Dili man tuod mi makatabang financially pero pinaagi sa amoang pag-assist sa mga tawo sa panahon sa mga kalihukan sa Tzu Chi foundation, malipayon mi nga mitabang sa amoang isigkatawo sa ginagmay apan kinasing-kasing nga paagi (We may not be able to help other people financially but through the assistance we give during Tzu Chi Foundation’s community activities we are happy to be of service to our fellowmen in our own little way which we heartily do),” added Julita.

Angelo, the fourth child in the family is also actively involved in church activities through his presidency of the Student Catholic Action in the Diocese of Tagbilaran City and advocates for the youth in the community. With this, Julita and Angel take pride at how their children also see the importance of giving back to the community all the blessings they have received.

Now, three of their children have already finished college and have landed decent and good jobs namely, Angel Nino, eldest, graduated Bachelor of Science (BS) in Information Technology and presently works at Shakey’s in Tagbilaran City; Angel Gerald, second, graduated BS Industrial Technology major in Food Technology, now a manager at McDonald’s in Tagbilaran City; and Julie Ann, the third child, graduated BS in Elementary Education and teaches at Carmel Academy in Balilihan.

The two other children Angelo and Maria Joanne are currently grade 11 and 12 students at Carmel Academy.

Julita and Angel are also proud to have raised children who consistently excelled academically despite their limited financial support for school.

The traditional making of vinegar has been the source of income of the family for many years now and has successfully sustained the education of Angel Nino, Angel Gerald and Julie Ann.

Angelo and Maria Joanne, Pantawid Pamilya monitored children, study diligently and are honor students just like their elder siblings.

“Dili nako ikauwaw ang pagpananggot, pagdaro gamit ang kabaw ug ang pagbuhi og mga butakal kay mao man kini ang nakapahuman og eskuwela sa akong tulo ka mga anak ug sa padayon og pa-eskuwela sa duha pa nako ka mga anak inabagan sa programa sa Pantawid (I am not embarrassed of the things that I do for a living because these, with the support of Pantawid, are the reasons we have been able to send our 5 children to school with 3 of them graduated from college),” said Angel.

The life of Batac Family is likened to the process of natural fermentation of vinegar that Angel does. As the processed vinegar ages, it produces a distinct taste, from sour to savory to sweet. Just like the Batac family, notwithstanding the challenges it has encountered, it sweetly and fruitfully grows as years pass by. ###

A Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary landed 10^th place in the recent Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET).

She garnered a score of 89.80% as released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) last December 2019.

Roxan Jane Arenas shows her Certificate of Recognition during the honoring of PRC Board Examinations Passer for 2019 on December 10, 2019 in CTU San Francisco campus.

Roxan Jane Pesalbon Arenas who hails from Brgy. Western Poblacion, San Francisco, Cebu, graduated with a degree in Elementary Education major in Content Education in Cebu Technological University (CTU) San Francisco campus.

The fourth among the brood of six, Roxan is a former monitored child under the 4Ps program. Currently, her other younger two siblings who are in grades 11 and 4 are still 4Ps monitored children.

A daughter of a carpenter and a child development worker (CDW), she admits that the family income is not enough for them.

“Tawagan ra jud siya kung nay project, kung wala, wala pud income (He would only be contacted if there is a project, if there is none, it means no income),” shared Roxan about his father’s work.

She admitted that she picked education for her course because she loves dealing with children.

In her Facebook post after the result of the LET exam, Roxan thanked God for an answered prayer and dedicated this victory to her parents.

She enumerated other people who helped her along the way including her siblings and her sister-in-law who let her stay with her family during the examination period.

She also mentioned her professors and the entire CTU family for inspiring her and for their sacrifices.

“Congratulations everyone who took the LET last September 29 ug sa wala nakapasar, ayaw lang ka wala sa paglaum. Laban lang ng laban. Dasig lang (Congratulations everyone who took the LET last September 29 and for those who did not pass the examination, do not lose hope. Keep the fight),” Roxan ended in her post.

Roxan plans to apply as a Teacher in her hometown. ###

Selected Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) partner-beneficiaries in Central Visayas region will be tapped for the tree replacement project in support to the National Greening Program (NGP) of the government.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala (leftmost) signs the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the tree replacement project together with DPWH-7 Regional Director Edgar Tabacon (center) and DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Paquito Melicor, Jr. (rightmost).

The tripartite agreement was signed on December 18, 2019 between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the implementation of a five-year tree replacement project in the region.

Under the agreement, the DSWD-7 will facilitate the identification of 4Ps partner-beneficiaries based on the proximity to the project areas.

The list of the identified 4Ps partner-beneficiaries will be forwarded to DENR accredited People’s Organizations (POs) for possible membership and/or employment.

The DPWH will allocate and transfer funds directly to the concerned DENR 7’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO). The funds shall defray the entire cost of the project including the procurement of materials, site preparation, plantation protection and maintenance.

Meanwhile, the DENR will identify suitable planting or replanting sites that can accommodate the total number of trees for replacement and will ensure that the tree species recommended for planting in specific project sites conforms on the livelihood of micro-enterprises to be proposed for the project participants. Typhoon-affected coastal areas shall also be identified for the mangrove rehabilitation component of the program.

DENR will also capacitate the POs and the 4Ps partner-beneficiaries in the planting or replanting of the seedlings.

“This tripartite agreement between the three national government agencies is a good collaboration in pushing forward the greening efforts of the government and at the same time helping our 4Ps partner-beneficiaries to gain additional income,” said DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala during the MOA signing held in DENR-7 regional office in Sudlon, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Once the project participants are identified, the social preparation will start including skills inventory, community organization, capacity building and project orientation. ###

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has conducted a house-to-house assessment using the social welfare and development indicators (SWDI) to determine and monitor the progress of the Pantawid Pamilya families’ well-being and to facilitate the case management aimed at promoting their sustainable transition out of poverty.

The DSWD-7 has targeted to assess 270,912 Pantawid Pamilya partner beneficiaries in Central Visayas region.

Pantawid Pamilya Municipal Link Ramel Taoy administers the Social Welfare and Development Indicators (SWDI) to a Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiary in Cordova, Cebu.

For economic sufficiency, beneficiaries have been evaluated based on the employable skills of members, employment and salary, source of income, membership to social security and access to financial institutions.

On the social adequacy, families have been rated based on the members’ health condition, nutrition and education, access to safe drinking water and sanitary toilet facility, house construction and ownership, and awareness of social issues.

The results of the assessment will serve as reference for the planning of government interventions and programs towards the improvement of the lives of poor families across the nation.

Interventions may include employment facilitation, skills training, provision of livelihood opportunities and referral to other programs and services of the DSWD, other national government agencies, local government units and private organizations.

The Pantawid Pamilya field staff which include the City and Municipal Links (C/MLs) have conducted the house-to-house assessment using the SWDI General Intake Sheet (GIS) and the SWDI Score Sheet.

The SWDI GIS is a one-page profile of the household that compiles the family’s demographics and socio-economic characteristics while the SWDI score sheet is a four-page form that gathers information on the score of the family for each indicator corresponding to economic sufficiency and social adequacy.

The 4Ps is an investment in human capital which seeks to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by focusing on education and health of the beneficiaries.

It uses the conditional cash transfer scheme to provide cash grants to the beneficiaries who comply with the program conditionalities which are: children 3 to 18 years old must be enrolled in kindergarten, elementary, and high school, and attend classes at least 85% of the time each month; children 0-5 years old must receive regular preventive health check-ups, growth monitoring, and vaccines; pregnant women get pre and post-natal care (must be attended by skilled/professional health workers); children in elementary must receive de-worming pills twice a year; and attendance of the grantee/parent/guardian to the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS). ###

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) exemplary children from all over the Philippines including the four representatives of Central Visayas region attended the week-long National Children’s Congress (NCC) held at Greenhills Elan Hotel in San Juan City, Metro Manila on November 18-23, 2019.

Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children from Central Visayas region pose after they showcase their talent.

The NCC participants from Central Visayas are the provincial winners of the 2019 Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children composed of Jhon Rhod Amodia of Cordova, Cebu, Cleia Tadena of Duero, Bohol, Shame Lagos of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental and Kathleen Chen Pastrana of Maria, Siquijor.

The yearly gathering of 4Ps children-beneficiaries started in 2012, which recognizes the important role of the children in the program implementation. Since then, the NCC became a regular activity of the program and is being conducted every November, coinciding with the celebration of the National Children’s Month.

The NCC is a series of workshops and activities, which aims to mold 4Ps children ambassadors by bringing out the voices of the children-beneficiaries primarily on the issues directly affecting them and propose advocacy-inclined response mechanisms.

The NCC also uses the arts as development approach in the participants’ creativity in expressing themselves, while instilling the values of leadership and volunteerism to help others, their family and their community.

This year, the discussion in the NCC focused on the participatory rights of the children. It includes children in governance, citizenship among children and providing space for children’s participation and advocating for children’s right to play.

“I learned many things while joining the different sessions in NCC like the Cyber Safety and how kids like me can be safe in the online world,” shared Jhon Rhod.

“Useful sa among pagtuon ang pag-gamit internet labi na kung adunay mga research apan kinahanglan mag-amping kay adunay mga threat like cyberbullying, gaming addiction ug uban pa (Internet is useful in our study especially if we have research in class but we need to be careful because there are threats like cyberbullying, gaming addiction and more),” added Jhon Rhod.

At a very young age, he takes a strong standpoint against cyber pornography, child abuse and bullying and he will share these learnings to his fellow students and friends in his community.

During the nightly talent exposition, the four children showcased their talents headed by Jhon Rhod playing the keyboard. Shame and Kathleen provided the dance interpretation of the song “A Million Dreams” while Cleia sang the song “Oras Na”, her audition piece during the ‘The Voice Kids Philippines’ season 4.

Jhon Rhod Amodia (center) receives the plaque of recognition from DSWD Assistant Secretary Glenda D. Relova (left) and Director Gemma B. Gabuya, Pantawid Pamilya National Program Manager (right).

All NCC participants also attended the Araw ng Kabataan at Pasig Sports Complex on November 23, 2019. As part of the culminating activity, they presented their creative outputs through singing, dancing, acting, writing and painting.

Also during the Araw ng Kabataan, the 17 Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children regional winners including Jhon Rhod Amodia received the plaque of recognition as they share the title of the 2019 National Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children. ###

As Jhon Rhod starts to play the keyboard for the worship song entitled “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord),” his mother Jonalyn candidly sings the lyrics of the song.

Bless the Lord oh my soul

Oh my soul

Worship His Holy name

Sing like never before

Oh my soul

I’ll worship Your Holy name

“Matag adlaw ginadayeg nako ang ngalan sa Ginoo pinaagi sa talent nga gihatag niya kanako (Every day I praise the name of God through the talent that he gave me),” Jhon Rhod explained as he continued playing the musical notes.

Jhon Rhod (right) bonds with her Mother and younger brother while playing musical instruments.

Who is Jhon Rhod?

Jhon Rhod Amodia, a 12 years old lad who hails from Barangay Gabi, Cordova, Cebu, is the eldest son of Teodulfo and Jonalyn Amodia. His younger and only sibling is Jose Rodulfo, 8 years old.

Teodulfo is a construction worker. He only works when there is a project. When there is no available work, he drives a “trisikad”.

Jonalyn helps her husband put food on the table by managing her own “sari-sari” store. She also occasionally sells food in their neighborhood.

“Nakita namo ang kalisud busa among nadesisyonan nga magplano sa pamilya mao nga duha ra among anak (We saw how hard life is and so we decided to have a family planning and that is why we only have two children),” said Teodulfo.

“Maka-income man sad ko sa pagpaninda diri ug makabantay sad ko sa akong mga anak labi na sa ilang pag eskwela (I can also earn from selling at the same time I can watch over my children especially in their studies),” said Jonalyn.

Jhon Rhod is currently a grade 7 student at Marigondon National High School while his brother Jose Rodulfo is a grade 3 pupil of Subabasbas Elementary School.

Both Jhon Rhod and Jose Rodulfo are monitored children under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Jhon Rhod has all praises for his parents whom he described as hardworking despite the hardships they have been through as a family.

“My parents are my role models. They supported me in my studies and taught us the right values like kindness, determination, patience and faith in God,” said Jhon Rhod in dialect.

Jhon Rhod also builds a healthy relationship with his brother. He helps him do his school assignments and projects.

Pantawid Pamilya Partner-Beneficiary

As a compliant Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, the family regularly received cash grant of Php 3,400.00 every two months for health and education. For the next payout, the cash grant will increase to Php 3,800.00 because Jhon Rhod is already in high school. They also receive a rice subsidy worth Php 600.00 per month and for 2019 they have availed a one-time Php 3,600.00 cash grant under the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT).

“Nakatabang ang cash grant nga nadawat namo gikan sa Pantawid kay nakapuno kini sa among budget para sa among pag eskwela ug sa bugas (The Pantawid cash grants augments the budget for our education and in buying the rice),” claimed Jhon Rhod.

“Ma-compare jud nako nga lahi ang among kahimtang sa una ug sa karon nga apil nami sa Pantawid (I can compare the different between our life before and now that we are part of the program),” added Jhon Rhod added.

Jonalyn ensures that the cash grants are used in its intended purpose – for children’s education, health and food.

“Sa una maka-utang pa aron makapalit sa mga school requirements sa mga bata ug mag kalisud jud. Busa nagpasalamat ako sa tabang sa DSWD kay masiguro na namo ang pag eskwela sa mga bata. Apan wala mi nagsalig ani ug naningkamot gihapon kami kay ang Pantawid abag lamang sa gobyerno alang sa mga kabos sama namo (We incurred debts before just to secure the school requirements for the children. Life was really difficult. That is why we are grateful for the help from DSWD because we are now assured of the education of our children. But, we do not just rely on Pantawid. We also work hard considering that this is just an assistance from the government to poor families like us),” explained Jonalyn.

Jonalyn emphasized that even in their poor situation, they continue to seek God.

“Seeing them finish their studies would mean so much to us. Education is the only treasure we can give to them,” added Jonalyn.

Hence, both Teodulfo and Jonalyn strive to find means to support their family.

With all their experiences, they know the importance of saving. Jonalyn opens a savings account for her two children in a local cooperative. She regularly saves some amount from their cash grants and deposit them. Jhon Rhod also saves money from his “baon” and currently has Php 12,000.00 in his savings account.

The Amodia couple are regular attendees of the Family Development Session (FDS), where they learned insights on responsible parenthood, disaster preparedness, values and spiritual formation and other relevant topics.

Jonalyn, as a parent, gives due attention to the roles of parents and the rights of children. She understands the important role of parents in molding a child.

Jhon Rhod helps Jose Rodulfo do his school assignments and projects.

Academic Excellence

Jhon Rhod believes in the value of education. He understands that being diligent in studies is already a preparation for his future job.

“Para sa mga bata nga nawad-an og gana sa pageskwela, gusto nako nga mahuna-huna nila ang sakripisyo sa ilang mga ginikanan. Daghan mga kakulian nga maagian pero kini gamitun nila aron mahimong silang mas maayong tawo (For my fellow children who lose interest in going to school, I want them to realize the sacrifices of their parents. There will be challenges along the way but they can use this as an experience to make them better persons),” Jhon Rhod said with conviction as he wants to advocate education.

Jhon Rhod’s diligence paid off as he received various awards and recognitions in his school. He is a consistent honor student from kindergarten to grade 6.

He said that all these he offers to his parents for their sacrifices. “Gusto nako ma-proud akong pamilya nako ug gusto nako mahimong modelo sa ubang bata nga magkugi sa ilang pagtuon (I want my family to be proud of me and set a good role model to other children to be diligent in their studies),” shared Jhon Rhod.

He added that to excel in class, one has to attend school always. Listening, taking down notes and actively participating in the discussion are few of his ways in having good grades.

Known for his good leadership, he was elected as the President of the Supreme Pupil Government during elementary.

He attended seminars and takes a strong standpoint against drugs, cyber pornography, child abuse and bullying and he shares these learnings to his fellow pupils and friends in their community.

He shared that he wants to be a doctor someday and dreams to open a clinic near their house in order to serve the people especially the poor.

His Musical inclination

Growing up in a Christian home, Jhon Rhod always goes to their church with his parents. At two years old, he was already exposed to the musical instruments in his church. One Sunday, after the worship, the little boy gathered their cookware such as pots and plates and used it as drums.

Their church pastor discovered his potential and bought him toy drum set, which started Jhon Rhod’s passion for music. He has developed a bond with drums and the relationship has grown and evolved over the years. He eventually fell in love with music.

Currently, he plays various musical instruments like piano, guitar, drum and ukulele owned by their church.

He is also a member of his school DLBC (Drum, Lyre and Bugle Corps) where he plays the snare drum.

His Advocacy

“My talent is a gift from God and I must use it to serve him. This talent of mine is to express my love to Jesus not just to impress people,” he said in dialect.

He believes in the power of prayer and said that through God, his father Teodulfo became a Christian.  Upon knowing God, his father stopped his vices and has turned into a responsible provider to his family.

Musically inclined Jhon Rhod plays various instruments like piano, guitar, drum and ukulele.

There are times that Jhon Rhod would share to his classmates what he learned in the church and that earned him the moniker the “Little Pastor”. He also never forgets to pray every morning after waking up and before sleeping at night. He prays when he eats, goes to school and feels uncertain of things around him.

“Ang pag ampo mao ang paagi nga maka communicate ta sa Ginoo para daygon nato siya, mangayo og pasaylo ug magpasalamat sa mga grasya nga nadawat (Prayer is our way to communicate with God to praise Him, ask forgiveness and give thanks for all the graces received),” he added.

Jhon Rhod encourages other children to read the bible because it contains many inspirational stories.

His favorite bible verse is John 13:34 “Higugmaa ang isig katawo sama sa pag higugma sa Ginoo kanimo (Love everyone the way God loves you),” he said. ###

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas warns the public of the alleged ongoing house-to-house listing of applicants for membership of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the province of Bohol specifically in the towns of Carmen, Anda and Garcia Hernandez conducted by some individuals who are not connected with the agency.

“Our office has received reports from our field staff about this incident and we encourage the public to be vigilant and to report to the nearest City or Municipal Action Team Office of DSWD-7,” announced Regional Director Rebecca Geamala.

“We also inform the public that DSWD is not also collecting any fee from individuals to become a Pantawid beneficiary,” Geamala added.

The Pantawid beneficiaries are objectively selected through the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, also known as Listahanan, which is based from an assessment of the physical structure of their houses, the number of rooms and occupants, their access to running water and other factors affecting their living conditions.

“Even if the household was already assessed by the Listahanan enumerator, it does not mean that it will automatically become a beneficiary of Pantawid or any government program,” Director Geamala emphasized.

All collected information from the household will go through a process using a scientific method called Proxy Means Test or PMT. The PMT is a statistical model that estimates the income of household based on the variables included in the family assessment form.

Households with estimated incomes that are equal to and above the latest provincial poverty thresholds will be considered non-poor and those with estimated incomes falling below the poverty thresholds will be considered poor.

“Once the household is identified as poor, they will become potential beneficiaries for various social protection programs of the government like the 4Ps. However, their inclusion in the programs still depends on the programs qualifications or eligibility criteria,” Geamala stressed.

Aside from being identified as poor from Listahanan, a Pantawid partner beneficiary must have children aged 0-18 or have a pregnant member at the time of the assessment and must be willing and able to comply with the conditions of the program as part of their co-responsibilities. ###

In commemoration of this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII once again conducted an Indigenous People (IP) Summit, participated in by the different IP groups in region 7.

Decina Nida Salingay, chieftain of the Eskaya Tribe in Candijay, Bohol provides a brief history about their tribe during the Indigenous Peoples Summit held by the DSWD-7.

The Eskaya Tribe in Candijay, Bohol; Bajau Community in Dauis, Bohol; Magahat Tribe in Basay, Negros Oriental; Tribu Bukidnon in Ayungon, Negros Oriental; and the Sama Bajau in Cebu City, Cebu who participated in the activity are among the IP groups covered under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the DSWD.

The two-day IP summit aims to recognize the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous People who preserve Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices, demonstrate positive traditional tribal Filipino culture and build affirmative influence in the cultural community where they are inherent in.

On the first day of the IP summit, the participating IP groups performed their respective tribal dances during the Monday convocation held at the field office.

During the activity, participants were discussed with the basic concept of gender sensitivity and the means of addressing possible gender-based violence and other gender related issues that may be faced by both men and women of the different tribal groups that might lead to non-compliance to the Pantawid Program conditions.

Preparing a catch up plan to address program issues and concern and developing response/commitment from the partners in the next year’s program implementation were also part of the workshop in the activity.

Also present during the summit were representatives from the different partner stakeholders of the department such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), PhilHealth, National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Cebu Provincial Office, and the Badjao Integrated Development Program of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On the second day of the summit, two IP groups were declared as model IP Community for their responsible adherence to the Pantawid program conditions and their excellent performance in developing their communities through and in partnership with the different stakeholders of the program.

The two Model IP Community are the Eskaya Tribe of Candijay, Bohol and the Sama Bajau of Cebu City, Cebu. ###