Learning from the Students

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries, as they flaunt their productivities.
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries, as they flaunt their productivities.

Sta. Maria, Bulacan —Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program members heed and keep an eye on the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Maria students’ directions during the Skills Training Seminar last February 17, 2016, at the Training Center, Municipal Hall of Sta. Maria.

“Hindi sila nakakailang turuan, kahit mas matanda sila sa amin at mga nanay, kasi willing talaga silang matuto. Nanghihingi pa nga sila ng handouts (We don’t feel uncomfortable teaching them, though they are older than us and already mothers, for they are really willing to learn. They are even asking for handouts,” shared Rose Ann De Guzman, daughter of a Pantawid beneficiary and one of the training facilitator, as well.

Seminar, Trends, and Issues (ENMA 1043) is one of the subject-course for the graduating students of the Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship (BS Entrep) at PUP. As one of the subject requirements, the students were to conduct a skills training in their chosen area. Upon hearing this, Municipal Action Team (MAT) leader Emmanuel Ryan Francisco, Project Development Officer II, put forward to give the skills training to the interested Pantawid members. Incidentally, some of the BS Entrep students are children of Pantawid grantees. Francisco together with Rose Ann, led in the coordination of two parties (The Pantawid beneficiaries and the group of graduating students).

Thirty Pantawid beneficiaries were able to participate in the training with two representatives per barangay of the municipality of Sta. Maria, so that there will be a resounding effect when they go back to their area. The participants were chosen based on the matching approach anchored in the Social Welfare and Development Indicator (SWDI) skills profiling.

The SWDI serves as a tool of the DSWD in the provision of interventions and services particularly under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. It also serves as the main case management tool to determine the status of well-being of the households.

“Excited po kami kasi magkakaroon kami ng pwedeng pagkuhanan sa pang-araw araw na gastos lalo na sa katulad naming may mga anak na nag-aaral (We are all excited for we are to learn something that we can make profit of, for the daily expenses, especially that we have children in school,” said Cecilia Mendoza, a Parent-Leader.

During the morning session the participants were taught of pudding and cheese stick making, inspired from the business of Rose Ann and her two classmates Riza and Armando. In the afternoon session, the participants were taught of graham ball and pastillas making, inspired from the business of Jasmin Lucia, one of the BS Entrep students.

The seminar ended with the awarding of certificates of the participants, followed by a photo opp. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)