The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) if informing the public that only those placement of a child to prospective adoptive parent/s approved by the DSWD and by the Courts are considered legal adoption. Hence, the DSWD is urging the public to enjoin and support the DSWD’s advocacy campaigns against illegal adoption of children by not participating and engaging into different transactions that promotes this illegal practice which endangers the lives of our children, biological parents and adoptive parents as their rights are not protected under Republic Act 8552 or the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998. Any person/s who will be found guilty of this illegal act will be apprehended and punished under the law.
Further, the DSWD is reiterating that the services of the DSWD are free but the applicat/s will spend for securing the documents required during the administrative phase of adoption. Also, the applicant/s or petitioner/s for adoption of a child will spend considerable amount of money in getting the services of a private lawyer whose cost of services varies such as but not limited to acceptance fee and appearance fee during the finalization of adoption in court.
As to the services of licensed and accredited Child-Placing Agency by DSWD such as NORFIL Foundation Inc., the applicant/s may inquire on the cost of fees and charges from the said agency.
Individuals or couples who wish to adopt a child should contact directly and transact only with the DSWD Field Offices or licensed and accredited Child-Placing Agencies or you may visit DSWD website at www.fo3.dswd.gov.ph for futher information.
DSWD Field Office III – Adoption Resource and Referral Section | (045) 246-70-21 | arrs.fo3@e-dswd.net
We urge the public to report to the DSWD Field Office III, thru its telephone number and email address mentioned above for any cases of illegal adoption of children for appropriate legal action. Rest assured that your identity will be kept private.
Mahigit 600 benepisyaryo ng Social Pension sa Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija ang nakatanggap pa ng ayudang 2,400 (para sa taong 2018; 200 kada buwan) mula sa UCT.
Ang ayudang hatid ng UCT ay bilang tulong-patungon sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin bunsad ng TRAIN Law.
Ang mga benepisyaryo ng programang Social Pension mula sa Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija ay buong galak nang kanilang matanggap ang karagdagang tulong.
Ngayong araw, ika-30 ng Hunyo taong 2018 ay nagkaroon ng sabayang payout mula sa iba’t ibang bayan ng Gitnang Luzon para sa mga Social Pensioner.
Si Corazon De Guzman-Mina ay 53 anyos, mula sa Brgy. Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija.
Siya ang nag-claim ng Cash Grant, mula Unconditional Cash Transfer, ng kanyang ama na may karamdaman na si Arnesto De Guzman na benepisyaryo ng programang Social Pension.
“Naging magulang kayo [Day Care Workers], hindi naging teachers – ‘yan ang hindi natin matatawaran. You are our unsung heroes,” said Director Gemma B. Gabuya of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office III in her inspirational message. This remark raised the morale of some 2,400 Day Care Workers who attended the 36th Regional Assembly of Daycare Workers held in Nueva Ecija Convention Center, Palayan City on 7 June 2018.
Theme: Sa pagpapaunlad at pagbabago ng kabataan, Child Development Worker na may malasakit ang kailangan.
The Unsung Heroes
Exactly 40 years ago, Day Care was developed by DSWD to provide child protection. This concept was created to serve the poor families who cannot afford to hire a yaya to look after their children while parents are trying their best to be economically productive. This was further institutionalized through Presidential Decree (PD) 1567 or the Barangay Day Care Center Law of 1978.
Their primary role is to foster an ideal setting for early child care and development. “Hindi biro ang magdevelop ng 3-4 years-old na mga bata,” affirms Dir. Gabuya. In fact, the first years of a child are considered the most fortunate and crucial stage in a person’s growth and development. This is why Ms. Elvira Ronquillo, PSWDO of Nueva Ecija believes that Day Care Workers have a big part on whatever the children will achieve in the future.
As of this writing, there is around 4,000 Day Care Workers in Central Luzon.
Legal Bases
Aside from PD 1567, the following are notable national laws and policies which support the need to protect and promote the welfare and development of Filipino children were identified by Ms. Elizabeth Baybayan, PSWDO of Pampanga:
PD 603 (The Child and Youth Welfare Code of 1974)
Republic Act (RA) 6972 (Barangay Level Total Development and Protection of Children of 1990)
RA 8980 (Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Act of 2000)
RA 10410 (Early Years Act of 2013).
These policies recognize ages zero (0) to eight (8) years-old as a crucial stage for educational development, strengthen the ECCD System, and appropriate funds for their respective implementation. Ms. Joanne Guerrero, ECCD Focal Person of PSWDO Pampanga, highlighted the fact that “Day Care Workers, who are also referred to as Child Development Workers (RA 10410), play a vital role in the implementation of these laws as well as in the facilitation of children’s overall growth and development.” However, there are no laws passed yet to institutionalize the employment of Day Care Workers.
Ms. Joanne Guerrero, ECCD Focal Person of PSWDO Pampanga presenting their concept paper.
The Pressing Situation
It is with no doubt; Day Care Workers are needed for nation building but Ms. Guerrero asked, “What if these employed child development workers are not able to get the just compensation, humane working conditions, and supportive supervision that our government promises to ensure?”
PSWDO of Pampanga conducted a Profiling of Day Care Workers from 2015 to 2017 that gave a clear picture of the current status of the DCWs in the province. The following are the highlights of their report:
58 or 8.87% day care workers are 56 years old and above but still without retirement benefits;
530 or 81 % graduated in college. This could mean that ECCD can be an option of the professionals;
Only 129 or 21.39% of the day care workers receive a total monthly subsidy/salary amounting to P6,001 – P7,000 from the barangay, municipal and provincial level. That’s less than a quarter of the DCWs;
569 or 87% of the day care workers are non-plantilla – this vast majority belongs in any of the following statuses: job order, subsidy or volunteer. Only 56 or 8.56% are permanent and 29 or 4.43% are casual;
58 or 8.87% day care workers have given 26-30 years in service while 23 or 3.52% have dedicated 36-40 years in their jobs.
“It has been years since the implementation of the laws covering the development and protection of our children. However, majority of our Day Care Workers are still regarded as unsung heroes of this country.”
The Advocacy
It was November last year when the House of Representatives approved on the third and final reading of House Bill No. 6550 which seeks to establish a Magna Carta for Day Care Workers. The said bill stipulated the following:
PROVISION OF PLANTILLA POSITIONS
IMPROVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING DCWs
OVERTIME PAY
HAZARD ALLOWANCE
SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE
SOCIAL INSURANCES SUCH AS GSIS, PAG-IBIG, PHILHEALTH
According to Guerrero, they believe that providing a just compensatory measure for our Day Care Workers secures not just the workers themselves but also the continuity of the ECCD as a program. LGUs’ commitment and responsiveness to this call will not only benefit its citizens but also its standing and reputation in the provision of good quality childcare.
Fun-filled DCWs Regional Assembly
Different DCWs sub-federations from provinces and cities shared good practices such as the creation of some permanent positions in the local level, conduct of different activities and above-standard facilities and infrastructures.
The highlight of the assembly was the regional choral competition. All performers were all dressed up in fancy costumes. All of them sung Filipino nursery songs and made them sound as sophisticated as can be. Mabalacat City won the city federation category while Nueva Ecija for the provincial category.
Photo opportunity for the winners with Elena Carreon, Regional Nutritionist of DSWD FO III and Elizabeth Baybayan, PSWDO of Pampanga
“Walang programang hindi mapapalakas at mapapaunlad kung walang suporta ng lokal na pamahalaan, mga kaagay na ahensya. At, hindi naman ito magigi
ng matagumpay, kung walang pagtanggap ng mga benepisyaro,” pagbibigay diin ni Assistant Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) Venus F. Rebuldela.
City of San Fernando, Pampanga—Pitong (7) natatanging proyekto ng Gitnang Luzon ang kilala ngayong ika-13 ng June 2018, bilang Good Practices and Convergence Initiatives, na nagsisilbing kaagay ng DSWD sa pagsusulong ng mga programang maagap, mapagkalinga, at walang puwang sa katiwalaan, sa para sa bayan.
Kinilala ang Auxiliary Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) Project mula sa probinsya ng Bataan bilang 2018 Regional Best Practice and Best Convergence Initiative. Samantala, kinilala naman bilang Second Regional Best Practice and Second Best Convergence Initiative ang Bayanihang Tarlaqueňo mula sa probinsya sa probinsya ng Tarlac. Kinilala naman bilang Third Regional Best Practice and Third Best Convergence Initiative ang Donya SLP: A Sheltered Workshop Project mula sa probinsya ng Bulacan. Gayundin naman, kinilala ang Rasyong Angkop Bata (RAB) mula sa probinsya ng Aurora, na Fourth Regional Best Practice and Fourth Best Convergence Initiative. At, kinilalang pawang good practices at convergence initiatives ang Inuminang Bayan Project mula sa probinsya ng Nueva Ecija, ang Garden of Eden in Propio Project mula sa probinsya ng Pampanga, at Pantawid PYAP (Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines) Project mula sa probinsya ng Zambales.
Ang mobilisasyon ng mga tinatawag na Auxiliary Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) ay isang proyekto mula sa munisipalidad ng Orion, Bataan. Ang mga naturang Auxiliary staff ay ang siyang katuwang ng mga Nurses, Midwives, at BHWs ng naturang bayan sa pagpapaabot ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan. Ang mga Auxiliary BHWs ay pawang mga miyembro ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (o 4Ps) na nag-volunteer na maging katuwang sa paghahatid sa serbisyong pangkalusugan.
Ms. Anabelle Pecina of Pampanga Social Welfare and Development Office receives the 3rd Gawad Listahanan Award under the Provincial Category from DSWD FO III Director Gemma B. Gabuya during the 66th DSWD Anniversary Celebration, February 10, 2017. Also in photo are Ms. Adelina S. Apostol, former DSWD FO III director and Asst. Regional Director Venus F. Rebuldela.
(City of San Fernando, Pampanga) The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III conferred to the Province of Pampanga the 3rd GAwad Listahanan Award under the Provincial Category during its 66th Anniversary Celebration held recently in this city. The Province of Pampanga was recognized for consistently utilizing DSWD Listahanan Database in targeting and selecting the beneficiaries of its various social protection programs and services such as ALAGA KA Program, SEPAG Kapampangan Program, and Social Pension for Senior Citizens. the Provincial government has been compliant to the data sharing with the DSWD and in integrating Listahanan in all its social marketing activities. ### (Evelyn T. Manalo)
Bag of Blessing. “Salamat po sa Metrobank Foundation sa regalong ibinigay nila, malaking bagay po ito sa aking pamilya.” -Josephine Nantes, 35 years old, a beneficiary of Bag of Blessing.
Colloquium, is the last module (among the 5 modules) of the Certificate Course on Personal Efficacy and Leadership, which is an academic unit of the Masters in Public Management (MPM) program of the Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Development Academy of the Philippines.
After identifying the Social and Welfare and Development Indicators’s gaps per province (and per municipality), and packaging it in a well-bounded book, the City/Municipal Action Team (C/MAT) Leaders representatives (per province) is now presenting their action plan on how to lobby these gaps and tapped readily-available/ local resources in a panel defense.
“I hope that you’ll all continue to be passionate–passionate to help your constituents. I hope such will not end in this four-cornered hall,” reminded Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Venus F. Rebuldela, as she congratulates each team for their dedicated effort and determination.
Today, though, is just the initial step of the (leadership) journey that they have to go through for the year 2017, as the Learning Manager, Alyn Joy D. Baltazar, laid emphasis on. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)
“Walang programang hindi mapapalakas at mapapaunlad kung walang suporta ng lokal na pamahalaan, mga kaagay na ahensya. At, hindi naman ito magigi
