Cultivating a communal garden that is prone to flooding every time there is heavy rain has been a challenge to a group of Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries in Barangay Can-upao, Jagna, Bohol.

Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries in Brgy. Can-upao, Jagna take a group photo in their communal garden.

“Kada mag-ulan og kusog, malunopan gyud ang among communal garden ug kadaghanan sa tanom madaot busa magtanom kami pag-usab isip hulip sa mga nadaot (Every time there is heavy rain, our communal garden gets flooded and most of our vegetables are destroyed, so we do the replanting),” said Vicente Garay, one of the Pantawid Pamilya parent-leaders.

The group composed mostly of women of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, ages 45-55. They all meet every Saturday but taking care of the garden, members are assigned to do it.

This communal garden had made the 4Ps beneficiaries apply what they have learned about the basics of vegetable production taught to them by the staff from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO).

Besides educating the beneficiaries on vegetable production, the MAO also provided them seedlings right after the Family Development Session (FDS).

“This started our first communal garden which was in a hilly place where soil is fertile and suitable for growing vegetables,” shared Vicente in dialect.

The group according to Vicente, also shared their own seedlings and planted 17 varieties of crops and vegetables such as ampalaya (bitter gourd), petchay (chinese cabbage), chinese tangkong (water spinach), sibuyas (leeks), batong (string beans), talong (eggplant), luy-a (ginger), okra (lady’s fingers), monggo (mung bean), carabantos (winged bean), gabi (taro root), kamatis (tomato), mustasa (mustard), sili (chili pepper), malunggay (horse radish), kalabasa (pumpkin) and alugbati (malabar spinach).

Vicente Garay shows the photo documentation of their ‘Gulayan sa Barangay’.

However, the communal garden’s success almost came close to an end because the owners would use it already for their house construction.

Luckily, the group found a vacant lot which the owner allowed them to use for their new communal garden.

“Kung adunay mga suggestion ang matag usa, among dawatun ug paminawun (Whatever suggestion from any of our members, we accept and listen to them),” said Vicente as he believes that every person can contribute his/her skills, knowledge and time.

Since the new location is prone to flooding, the Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries unleashes their ingenuity to prevent their vegetable from flood, by using recycled tire and bottle for their alternative vegetable garden.

Their harvest from April 2017 to July 2018, yield them an income of Php 2,000.00. They all agreed that their goal of having a communal garden is not for business but for having healthy food on the table.

“Buot namo nga makapakaon sa abot sa among garden mao nga dunay mga higayon nga among tapokon ang mga anak sa among communal garden ug saluhan ang among giandam nga pagkaon (We wanted to have feeding for our children with the harvest from the communal garden),” expressed Vicente.

For the group, what is important is they can get vegetables from their garden and cook it in their respective homes.

The income from the communal garden is intended for the group’s savings and will be used if there will be logistical needs like bond papers, folders and pens for their documentation.

“Selling the harvest is the least priority of the group,” stressed Vicente.

Vicente shared that every time they have their feeding for their children, it boosts their group’s camaraderie and friendship.

“Seeing the satisfaction of our children after eating the food we gave them makes us happy,” said Vicente.

The group uses recycled tire in planting their eggplant.

Their effort was paid off when they were awarded as the most outstanding communal garden of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the town of Jagna. ###

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VII (DSWD-7) reiterates the criteria for qualification to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) which is being implemented by the agency.

This came after a viral Facebook post of a teacher about the deplorable situation of her student saying that the family is deprived of 4Ps.

The beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program were selected objectively through the National Household Targeting System (NHTS-PR), also known as Listahanan, which is an administrative tool that identifies who and where poor households are in the country.

The collected information from the household went 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 household assessment form.

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

Selection Criteria for Pantawid Beneficiaries

“Once the household is identified as poor, they will become potential beneficiaries for various social protection programs of the government like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. However, their inclusion in the programs still depends on the programs qualifications or criteria,” said Director Macapobre.

In the first round of Listahanan household assessment in 2009, a total of 525,588 households were targeted for the enumeration in region 7.  Out of the said target, 314, 654 households were identified as poor.

From the 314,645 identified poor, a total of 61,149 were enrolled in Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in 2010.  They were enrolled in the program because they meet the criteria for the selection of Pantawid beneficiaries.

Aside from being identified as poor from Listahanan, a 4Ps beneficiary must have children aged 0-18 or have a pregnant member at the time of the first assessment in 2009 and must be willing and able to comply with the conditionalities of the program as part of their co-responsibilities.

It was explained that enrollment of Pantawid Pamilya was done on staggered basis depending on the targeted number and approved budget for the year.

As of July 2018, there are 252,633 active Pantawid Pamilya households in region 7.

“We want to emphasize that the current 4Ps beneficiaries were identified poor households under the Listahanan using the result of the first round of household assessment in 2009,” said Director Macapobre.

In the initial report of the Pantawid staff in Carcar City, it was known that the student’s family had missed the Listahanan first enumeration because based on the mother’s account most of the time they were out of the house to earn a living.

The Listahanan second round of household assessment was conducted in 2015 and the family was already included in the enumeration.

“We launch the result of the second round of household assessment in June 2016 but in August 2016 there was a moratorium on the expansion because the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program was subjected to review,” Director Macapobre underscored.

“As of now, we have not added new 4Ps beneficiaries since the moratorium has not been lifted,” Director Macapobre said.

Director Macapobre clarified that 4Ps is not the only program in the anti-poverty strategy of the government.

“4Ps is just one of our many programs and services. We also have Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situations (AICS) which the family can apply.  On the other hand, the Local Government Units (LGUs) through their Local Social Welfare and Development Office can also offer their own programs and services,” Director Macapobre added.

Unconditional Cash Transfer

Recently, the DSWD also implemented the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT). The UCT is a program mandated by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law as aid to individuals who might be affected by its implementation.

Cash transfers are provided to lessen the impact to the poor who are affected by the effects of the TRAIN, such as increase in excise taxes on petroleum products, automobiles, and sugar sweetened beverages.

“We would like to inform the public that the UCT program implemented by DSWD together with the Landbank of the Philippines has not identified new beneficiaries to receive the cash grants,” said Macapobre.

She added that although the program is new, the beneficiaries are not, because they are DSWD’s existing beneficiaries.

The DSWD was given the responsibility to implement the UCT that will provide cash grants to 10 million households/individuals. These households/individuals come from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens and Listahanan identified poor.

The beneficiaries receive Php 200 monthly, or a total of Php 2,400 this year. The Field Office is not halfway done with its UCT pay out. ###

Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries who were grantees of Expanded Students Grants-in-Aide Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) now work at the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VII (DSWD-7).

From left to right: Mayet Jumao-as, Sarah Mae Albaña, Christian Claven Joseph Inot, Mary Ann Olivar and Lea Araneta, the proud ESGP-PA grantees who now work with DSWD-7.

Christian Claven Joseph Inot, Mary Ann Olivar, Sarah Mae Albaña, Lea Araneta and Mayet Jumao-as who are all fresh graduates from the Cebu Normal University (CNU) Medellin Campus with a degree in Bachelor of Tourism Management applied for a job at DSWD-7 and were hired.

“Naswertehan kay sa kadaghang nangapply, naapil ko sa mga nadawat nga empleyado (I am lucky because there were many applicants and I am one of those who were hired),” enthused Mayet, 20 years old from Bogo City, Cebu.

Mayet shared that her parents provided support and encouragement in her pursuit for education but their finances would not suffice. “It was really hard but I am thankful that after my high school graduation, our Pantawid Parent Leader told us about the ESGP-PA and I never had second thoughts in taking the entrance exam in CNU Medellin Campus,” said Mayet in dialect.

When Mayet got the ESGP-PA slot she became more determined to study harder because as a grantee, Mayet was hopeful that she would finish college.

Lea was also thankful for having availed of the ESGP-PA, which provided her free tuition and monthly allowance.

“Some people say that education is not important and they even cite successful people who excelled in their field but did not finish their education. However, for poor people like me, education is a ticket to have a bright future,” said Lea, a 22 years old lass from Bogo City, Cebu.

Lea said she is not really a smart person but she graduated with flying colors because of sheer tenacity and diligence. She further advised the students like her to set their goals and dream big as she believes in the saying “sky is not the limit when there are footprints in the moon”.

Christian, Mary Ann and Sarah Mae said in unison that the program helped them strengthen the foundation in order for them to reach their dreams and to have a better future for their families.

All five of them work as a Social Welfare Assistant (SWA) under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of DSWD.

The ESGP-PA is implemented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

The program provided opportunities to 4Ps households who have children who are determined to pursue college education and qualified for the scholarship. A college degree for the children-beneficiaries opens an opportunity for them to access better employment and help them improve their lives. ###

Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries in Central Visayas region are now more prepared whenever disaster and calamities occur.

Through the Family Development Session (FDS), a monthly session that gathers 4Ps partner-beneficiaries, they have acquired new skills and knowledge on various topics like disaster preparedness.

The E-Balde of Garay Family.

In December 2014, Typhoon Queenie wreaked havoc in the Central Visayas region which damaged lives and properties.

Two of the families affected by the typhoon were the Garay and the Cachero families from Can-upao, Jagna and Alejawan, Duero, Bohol.

“Dili gyud namo makalimtan ang bagyong Queenie kay naguba gyud among balay ug kadtung hitabo naghatag namu og leksyon nga mangandam gayud ug mu-advice nga for evacuation, mubakwit gyud ang tibuok pamilya (We could not forget Typhoon Queenie because it totally destroyed our house and it served as a lesson for us to heed the call for pre-emptive evacuation of the whole family),” said Marissa Garay.

As a preparation for any disaster, the Garay family has their own Emergency Balde or E-Balde which contains important documents and basic needs of the family, which can easily be carried during evacuation.

“Naa na sad mi Family Disaster Action Plan nga maghatag og giya kung unsay buhaton sa matag miyembro sa pamilya (We also have our own Family Disaster Action Plan that will guide each member of the family on what to do when disaster occurs),” added Marissa.

Mary Jane Cachero is also thankful for the learnings from the FDS and the lessons she gained during the training provided by the Barangay Disaster Response Team.

“Ako pud kini gipa-ambit sa akong bana ug sa upat nakong mga anak kay importante gyud nga kabalo ang tanan kung unsay buhaton pananglitan adunay kalamidad sama sa bagyo o linog (I also shared this with my husband and four children because it is very important that everybody in the family knows what to do whenever there is a calamity like a typhoon or an earthquake),” Mary Jane said.

Marissa and Mary Jane both agreed that preparedness is important because it mitigates the effects of any disaster.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII joins the nation is celebrating the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) for the whole month of July.

Formerly called the National Disaster Consciousness Month, the celebration was renamed to NDRM through an Executive Order No. 29 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on June 28, 2017 and the observance highlights the shift from disaster awareness building to disaster resilience.

This year’s theme is “Katatagan sa Kalamidad ay Makakamtan Kapag Sapat ang Kaalaman sa Kahandaan”, which emphasizes the necessity of information in order to address the need for resiliency amidst constant disasters. ###

A family in the island of Mactan emerged as this year’s Regional Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya, a search for role model families of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VII (DSWD-7) announced the family of Cloduoldo and Ofelia Campugan from Brgy. Poblacion, Cordova as the winner in the 2018 regional tilt.

Ofelia (second from right) and Clodualdo Campugan (rightmost) happily pose together with some of their children in their humble abode in Cordova, Cebu.

They will receive a cash prize and a plaque of recognition during the DSWD-7’s Panaghiusa Festival to be held in December in Ayala Center Cebu.

They will also represent region 7 in the national search of Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya.

The family of Edgardo and Pacita Oque from Brgy. Cabacnitan, Batuan, Bohol placed second.

The families of Nestorio and Judelyn Suple from Brgy. Linantayan, Basay, Negros Oriental and Paulbert and Jenny Bagundol from Brgy. Cantugbas, Maria, Siquijor garnered the third and fourth place, respectively.

Clodualdo, who only finished elementary education works as a carpenter. He also drives “trisikad” to augment his income. Ofelia, on the other hand, cooks and sells food and “kakanin”.

The couple is blessed with six children, namely; Kimberly, Clavel, Jesper, Pamela, Clofel Mae and Haneleth.

“We see the sacrifices of our parents and our determination to finish our studies is our way of paying them back. We cannot ask for better parents, they are already perfect and the best parents for us,” said Clavel, who recently graduated with a degree in Psychology at the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu.

Indubitably, their children are academic achievers and show exceptional talents and skills which qualified them for scholarship grants. They are all consistent honor students since elementary. They are also active in extracurricular activities as exemplified in their membership in school organizations.

“Dili gayud makapatapulan ang 4Ps (The program does not make us lazy),” said Clodualdo.

“Mas maningkamot pa gani og trabaho para matubag gayod ang panginahanglanon sa pamilya. Ang Pantawid alang gayud sa pagpaeskwela sa mga bata ug sa ilang panglawas. Dako gyud akong pasalamat niini ug sa mga nakat-unan namo sa pag-attend sa Family Development Session (FDS) (We need to strive so that we can provide for the needs of the family. The Pantawid program is for our children’s education and health. I am really thankful for this program and all the learnings that imparted to us during FDS),” Clodualdo added.

Ofelia, who is a cancer survivor, admitted to have encountered difficulties and challenges in life but she conquered it all through the love of God and our faith in Him.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 18 and below. It is implemented by the DSWD together with other government agencies to include the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DoH).

It provides cash grants to compliant household beneficiaries with health grant worth Php 500 and educational grants worth Php 300 and Php 500.00 each to the children studying in elementary and high school, respectively. ###

“We might have different stories. I know my life was less dramatic than others. But it is what in our hearts that matter. I never thought I could gain this success, but I know I worked hard for it and I will continue working for it. Poverty might hinder someone to succeed, but the road to success has towers of hope and tunnels of opportunities to keep me going,” says Glena Berondo, a lass from Brgy. Guadalupe, Carmen, Bohol, as she reflects on her journey as a student.

Glena said that her story is just one of the many stories of students who painstakingly pursue their education and she hopes it could inspire others especially those who are losing hope to follow their dreams and believe that there is nothing impossible if they will strive to make it happen.

Glena Berondo in her graduation photo.

“When you achieve your dreams, always remember to look back all the people who has been part of your success. The universe will indeed conspire to make your dreams happen, but sometimes it is through others help,” Glena underscored.

She grew up in a family where single penny matters. She was raised by her parents with the appreciation of the little blessings they had in their home.

“Simple ra gyud and among kinabuhi sa una ug simple ra pud ang among mga pangandoy (Our life was simple back then and so my dreams in life),” added Glena.

Glena recalls during her elementary days when she sells “balikutsa” in school in order to have an allowance and she could share it with her siblings. Balikutsa is a native candy made of mascovado and coconut milk.

“Ang akong mga ginigakanan kay mumata og sayo aron makapaninda og mga snacks sa eskwelahan para sa among inadlaw nga galastuhan. Nagdako ko nga nakita ang ilang kakugi ug pag-antos miskin paman sa kalisud sa among kinabuhi (My parents will wake up early in the morning to sell snacks in school for our daily expenses. I grew up seeing their hard work and sacrifice amidst our hardship in life),” Glena said with nostalgia in her mind.

Glena’s father is a farmer and her mother is a housewife.

“Upat mi ka magsuon ug ang among ginikanan gitinguha gyud nga mapaeskwela ming tanan (We are four siblings and our parents were determined to send us all in school),” she added.

When she was still in elementary, Glena realized that one’s economic status could influence his or her future in life.

“Since my parents were afraid to send my sister in college for financial reasons and because my mother was pregnant at that time, my sister was forced to stop her studies and just find a job. Opportunities for high school graduates are really different from others who earned a degree in college. So I realized at that time, educational attainment really matters,” Glena said in dialect.

As a proof of her determination and perseverance in pursuit of her studies, Glena graduated valedictorian in elementary and was given the privilege to be a scholar in high school.

“It was in my high school years when we were included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps of the national government,” she recalled.

According to Glena, the program helped them a lot in many aspects of their life.

“Kini nga program nakatabang sa mga labing nagkinahanglan nga pamilya sama namo. Pinaagi ni ini, ni arang-arang ang among kahimtang ug kini nakatabang og dako sa mga estudyante (This program helped many less-privileged families like ours. Through this, our situation as family has become better and it helps a lot especially for students),” Glena passionately said.

“Nakatabang kini sa pagpalit sa akong mga school supplies ug kung adunay school project makagahin si mama og hatag nako (It helped in purchasing my needs for school supplies and if there is a school project my mother could spare some money for me),” Glena said.

When Glena graduated in high school as fourth honorable mention in 2014, she persistently looked for all possible scholarships so that she could pursue her education in college since her parents are not that financially capable to support her.

“Since we are partner-beneficiaries of 4Ps, I took an examination so that I could be a grantee of Commission on Higher Education’s (CHEd) Expanded Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) and luckily I ranked as number one in the list of the grantees who took entrance exam in the state university,” Glena happily recalled.

“Indeed, God works in very mysterious ways. He granted me things more than I deserved and I took up Bachelor in Secondary Education Major in English in Bohol Island State University (BISU) Bilar Campus,” she added.

“It was really an amazing journey and with this opportunity given to me as one of the grantees, I was able to finish my studies with flying colors,” Glena beamed with pride as she graduated Cum Laude.

Glena beams with happines as she poses for posterity with her proud parents during her graduation day.

She said she will be forever indebted to the program since it is the main reason why she was able to finish her degree.

“Gitagaan mi binuwan nga allowance, free tuition ug book allowance kada semester. Mas napadali o napasayun ang among pageskwela kay dili naman mi magkalisud pangita kung asa mi mukuha og kwarta para sa among mga school expenses (We were given monthly allowance, free tuition and book allowance every semester. It made our journey as students smooth and easy since we will not have a hard time in looking for money for our school expenses),” she said matter-of-factly.

“So, it is our liability if we will use it selfishly and recklessly. It is just an opportunity given once. Thus, I told myself that I should take good care of it,” Glena added.

With the degree Glena gained through the help of the government, she can now help her family since she was the first child who had finished college.

“Many are deprived to quality education or worst to education itself. But as someone who believe of what education can do, I want to encourage everyone to take it as a challenge and to prove that poverty can never beat hard work and perseverance,” Glena said as she starts her teaching career profession in St. Anthony Academy in Carmen, Bohol. ###

After a series of rigorous cluster and provincial desk validation during the simultaneous provincial level search of Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII has named the top three winners from each four provinces in region 7.

The Bohol provincial winner is the Oque family of Batuan town while the second and third placers are the Lingacion family of Balilihan and Muring family from Trinidad, respectively.

The provincial winner of Cebu is the Campugan family from the town of Cordova. The Villegas family from Medellin ranks second while the Garciano family from Poro ranks third.

The Negros Oriental provincial winners are the following: Suple family of Basay, first place; Bohol family of Mabinay, second place; and Mercullo family of Valencia, third place.

Siquijor’s provincial winners include the Bagundol family of Maria, first place; Caspiz of Siquijor, second place; and Lapinig family of Larena, third place.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre said that their stories are truly inspirational and worthy of emulation by other Pantawid Pamilya family-beneficiaries.

“They are an addition to our family ambassadors who can serve as a good role model in their own community,” Director Macapobre added.

The provincial winners will receive a cash prize and a certificate of recognition during the provincial awarding ceremony this June.

The judges during the provincial search were from partner national government agencies like DOH, DepEd and DILG, provincial government of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor and partner civil society organizations (CSOs).

The provincial first placers will compete in the regional level search next month. ###

“Ganahan ko makakat-on pagdugang kabahin sa pamaol kay mao man kini akong nahibaw-an ug mao kini among panginabuhian (I wanted to learn more about farming because this is what I know and where we get our income),” said Francisco Elardo as he tends his plants in their family backyard in Brgy. Taytay, Badian, Cebu.

Francisco (leftmost) makes sure that the whole family is engaged in their organic backyard garden from which they get a good supply of vegetables.

Francisco’s inclination to farming started after he attended a seminar on organic farming in 2010.

“Nakat-unan nako sa seminar nga dili kinahanglan mogamit og spray nga adunay mga kemikals (I learned from that seminar that it is not necessary to spray chemicals to plants)”, Francisco said matter-of-factly.

Francisco immediately applied what he learned from the seminar and fortunately he was right on his decision to pursue organic farming. Together with his wife Marilou and their two children, Reese and Christian, he planted a variety of vegetables like alugbati, talong, camote, batong, pechay, patola and malunggay. He also grew fruit bearing trees like guyabano, papaya, tambis, bayabas coconut, bayabas and avocado.

“Human sa usa ka tuig, nalipay ko nga naka-ani mi og daghang utanon ug kini nagamit sa akong pamilya ug ang among mga silingan ug uban sa laing barangay mopalit pud sa among mga ani (I was happy that after a year, we were able to harvest many vegetables, which benefited our family, neighbors and people from other barangays who also buy our fresh produce),” Francisco beamed with gladness.

Instead of chemicals, Francisco applied organic fertilizers on his one thousand square meters backyard garden through vermiculture.

Vermiculture is the use of earthworms to break down organic materials into rich fertilizers for use in organic gardening and farming.

Francisco also uses organic chemicals for spraying his plants and planted insect repellant plants like tanglad (lemongrass) to ward off insects, which are pests for his backyard garden.

Francisco tends to his alugbati.

In the 2013, he decided to make his backyard garden as a demonstration farm because many people now visit his backyard garden to know about organic farming. In fact, many high school and college students visit his demonstration farm to learn more and see an actual organic farm.

In 2014, the Municipal Links of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program coordinated with the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) for seeds to augment Francisco’s demonstration farm.

“Miski kapoy, malipay gihapon ko mag-demo sa mga estudyante kay ganahan man sad ko nga mapa-ambit sa lain akong nahibaw-an kabahin sa organic farming (Even though I am tired, I am happy to demonstrate to students the vermiculture technology because I love to share what I have learned about organic farming),” he said.

If there are visitors, Francisco would discuss the natural farming system like indigenous microorganism, fermented plant juice and fermented fruit juice.

There are also two small fish ponds in their backyard garden.

“Sa panahon nga wala pay ani, kining mga tilapia maoy among sud-anon ug dili man pud mi magkalisud palit og bugas kay naa naman rice subsidy nga gihatag sa amo (During lean season, these tilapias serve as our viand and we do not worry about rice since we already have the rice subsidy),” he added.

Last year, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) tapped Francisco as one of the resource speakers for organic vegetables farming seminar.

Currently, he is the Farmer Scientist Training Program Barangay Coordinator and at the same time a farmer’s trainor under the Office of Provincial Agriculturist of Cebu Province.

As an advocate of organic farming, he encourages other Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries to follow the natural farming system.

Francisco shows his home-made organic fertilizers.

“Magkugi, mag-antos ug labaw sa tanan dili gyud hikalimtan ang atong Diyos kay tungod siya ang naghatag natu sa tanang mga grasya (Persevere, sacrifice and most importantly do not forget God because is the one who provides us all the blessings),” Francisco’s reply when asked of his principle in life. ###