Kenneth Cruz, 20, the fourth child of Mrs. Rosario Cruz, sewer, and buyer and seller, and Mr. Fernando Cruz, deceased, among their five (5) children. Their family was crippled 10 years ago when his father died, and then when Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program came into their life, as if a crutch was offered to them. “Siguro po kung buhay pa ang tatay ko ay hindi rin kami masasali sa Pantawid (Maybe if my father is still here, we would not be part of Pantawid),” said Kenneth.

Two of his older brother only finished Grade Six (6), her older sister, on the other hand, was only able to reach First Year College, while he will now finish Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English this coming April 29, 2016, with a recognition of being the Best Student-Teacher among the more or less hundred graduating students of the Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. He is now also hired as a faculty member in a private school.

“Dati po malimit na malilit na magkaulam kami, kapos din posa mga pang-araw araw na pangangailangan. Kaya po malaking tulong ang Pantawid sa buhay namin. Napakahirap pong magpaaral ng college, malimit nating marinig, pero dahil po sa SGPPA, napakalaking bagay. Maraming requirements, pero dahil po sa scholarship ay nakakapag-comply ako ng walang problema (Before we rarely had viand on our late, we also cannot maintain meeting our daily needs. That is why Pantawid is indeed a helping hand. It is hard to send someone in college, as we often times hear, but because of the SGPPA, what a great assistance. We had so many requirements, yet because of the scholarship, I can hassle-free comply with them),” narrated Kenneth.

“Iba po yung may komportableng buhay. Kaya naman pagsusumikapan kong tulungan si nanay. Sa edad po niya ngayon ay hindi na siya dapat nahihirapan (Having a comfortable life is really different. That is why I am going to do my best to help mother. She should not be having hard times at her age),” he added.

Opportunity knocks once, Kenneth believes; people should make the most out of it then, he suggested.

“Habang may tumutulong pagbutihan, dahil babalik rin naman sayo yun. Hanggang sa dumating yung pagkakataon na ikaw na man yung makakatulong sa mga nangangailangan (As long there is an aid, do persevere, for it will eventually paid off. Then a time will come that is is already you who is going to be an aid to the needy),” emphasized Kenneth

Poverty is not forever, that is what Kenneth hoped to instill in every mind of her future students. “Ikaw lang din sa huli ang kailangagn tumulong sa sarili mo. Nakasuporta lang ang gobyerno at ang mga mahal mo sa buhay (In the end, it is only you who is really going to help yourself. The government and your love ones are but mere supporters),” he testified. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)

“Ang isang susi para maputol ang siklo ng kahirapan ay ang edukasyon,” pagbibigay diin ni Sec. Corazon Juliano-Soliman noong nakaraang Parent Leaders Dialogue na ginanap sa Nueva Ecija, sa Pag-asa Gym, San Jose City nung umaga, at sa Araullo University Gym nung hapon.

Ang Parent Leaders Dialogue ay isang aktibidad na bahagi ng Active Citizenship na naglalayong magmulat sa mga benepisyaryo upang sila ay makialam at makibahagi sa mga usaping politikal at sosyal na ang kanilang kapakanan ang nakasaalang-alang.

Isa sa mga pinakamahalagang bahagi ng aktibidad ay ang open forum kung saan ang mga Parent-Leader ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataong linawin ang ilang mga katanungang bumabagabag sa kanilang isipan.

Ang diskusyon ay nakapaloob sa tatlong paksa. Una, ay kung maari bang mabigyan ng allowance ang mga Parent-Leader. Ikalawa, ay kung paano pa mas makakatulong ang mga Parent-Leader sa pagpapabuti ng programa. At ikatlo, ay kung maaari bang maging campaign volunteer ang mga Parent-Leader.

Ayon sa mga sagot ni Sec. Soliman, hindi maaring bigyan ng allowance ang mga Parent-Leader, gayunpaman ay isinusulong na magkaroon ng budget para sa kanilang transportasyon at komunikasyon, na maaring i¬-reimburse o maisauli sa kanila.

“Ang tulong na nagagawa ng mga Parent-Leader ay napakalaking bagay sa magandang implementasyon ng programang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino,” wika ni Sec. Soliman. Sila ay nagsisilbing tagapayo ng mga kapwa nila benepisaryo, at tagapagpadaloy ng impormasyon. Kaya naman iminungkahi niyang sila ay maging mapanuri at tulungan ang mga kasama at hikayating maging ganoon rin.

“Hindi ninyo po kailangang humingi ng permiso. Ang pangangandidato ng kursunada ninyong politiko ay inyong karapatan. Sapagkat ang inyong taya ay mas malaki. Kami sa DSWD ay mawawalan lang ng trabaho samantalang sa inyo ay mawawala ang panaginip na hawak na ninyo. Ang katotohanang maaring makapagtapos ang inyong mga anak ng high school, ang katotohanang maaring magpatuloy sa kolehiyo ang inyong mga anak, at ang katotohanang maari silang makahanap ng magandang trabaho,” sabi ni Sec. Soliman. Hindi, aniya, sila maaring pakialaman ng mga City/Municipal Links (C/MLs) hanggat hindi nila inaabuso ang kanilang tungkulin at tinatakot ang kanilang miyembro. Dagdag pa ni Secretary Soliman, ang pagkaalis ng sino mang benepisyaryo ng Pantawid ay nasa kamay lang ng Department of Social Welfare and Development na nakasalalay naman sa pagsunod ng mga miyembro sa mga alituntunin at kondisyon ng programa.

Nabanggit din sa aktibidad ang pagsasabatas ng Pantawid dahil na rin sa mainit na balitang apat (4) sa limang (5) botante ang maghahalal sa politikong magpapatuloy ng programa. Ngayon nga ay mayroon nang House Bill na nasa Senado, House Bill No. 6393 na naaprubahan sa pangatlong basa ng House of the Representative noong Pebrero 1, 2016.

Gayunpaman, isa sa pinakamahalagang tampok ng Bill ay ang pagkakaiba nito sa umiiral na programa pagdating sa limitasyon ng pagiging miyembro ng programa. Ayon sa House Bill No. 6393 ay ang isang pamilya ay maari lamang maging miyembro ng Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) sa loob ng limang (5) taon, samantalang ayon sa umiiral na programa ay maaaring manatiling miyembro ang isang pamilya hanggat mayroon silang anak/ mga anak na may edad 0-18 taong gulang at ang kanilang kabahayan ay nauring mahirap sa Listahanan.

“Mahalaga na ang batas na umaayon sa mga probisyon na naglilingkod sa inyong layunin na mapanatili ang mga bata sa eskwelahan at mapanatiling malusog,” turan ni Sec. Soliman. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)

“Kung kayo ay advocate ng programa, dapat subaybayan ninyo ito ng parang baby. Kung hindi siya bibigyan ng gatas, kahit gaano iyan kalakas ay tiyak namamatay,” payo ni Committee Secretary Maria Lourdes Sagmit-Mendoza ng Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ng Pilipinas habang kanyang tinatalakay kung paano ang Bill ay nagiging Law bilang bahagi ng tatlong araw na Training para sa mga Parent-Leader sa Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija noong March 30, 2016.

Ang aktibidad ay dinaluhan ng mga piling Parent-Leader ng buong Rehiyon III. Ito ay naglalayong palakasin at ihanda ang puso at isipan ng mga Parent-Leader para sa public hearing tungo sa pagsasabatas o institutionalization ng Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Bill, na kilala rin sa tawag na Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

“Sa pamamagitan po at sa tulong, pagsisikap, sa awa ni Lord ay napagtagumpayan naming ang buhay naming hanggang ngayon,” pagpapatunay ni Rowena Salamat, 46, isang Pantawid grantee.

Si Rowena, sampu ng kanyang pamilya ay napiling Ikalawang Huwarang Pamilya ng buong rehiyon noong 2015. Siya ay nagtapos ng sekondarya, samantalang ang kanyang asawa ay hindi, na ngayon ay binawian na rin ng buhay. Siya ay biyuda; sila ay biniyayaan ng limang anak na ngayon ay Sokolohista, Arkitekto, Ispesyalista ng Computer, at dalawang estudyante ng elementary na parehong may karangalang banggit. Mayroon na rin silang patahian ng bag, na naipundar nila sa tulong ng grant na nakukuha nila sa Pantawid.

Ang kwento ng mga benepisyaryo ng Pantawid ay ang buhay na patunay na epektiboang programang ito ng gobyerno. Ang CCT ayon sa kanila ay mayroong tinatawag na Return of Investment (ROI), kung saan sila ay naglalayong ibalik sa gobyerno ang tubo ng pamumuhunan nito sa kanila.

Ang mga Parent-Leaders ay sumasayaw sa saliw ng Man in the Mirror—sa kanila magsisimula ang pagbabago, turan ni Sec. Mendoza.

“Sana sa paglipas ng apat na tao nang pagiging Parent-Leader ay maging institusyon, hindi lang basta batas, ‘di lang natatapos sa pagiging CCT Bill,” wika ni Usec. Angelita Y. Gregorio-Medel, Institutional Development Group Representative to the Cabinet Assistance System. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)

The government is accountable to uphold your rights.”

Regional Director Gemma B. Gabuya of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III stressed during the Women Agenda Forum held in San Simon, Pampanga on March 28.

In her message before some 500 women of San Simon, Gabuya said that this is anchored on Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, a comprehensive women’s human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of Filipino women, especially those in the marginalized sector.

Director Gabuya tackled three salient features of the Law, namely, Comprehensive Women’s Health Care and Services, Social Protection for women in the Informal Economy and Gender and Culture Sensitivity of Educational and Trainings at All Levels.

In her discussion of Comprehensive Women’s Health Care and Services, Gabuya said that women face health risks all throughout their life cycle. As a right of women, they should be treated in a humane, compassionate and non-judgmental manner when they seek health services. They should be provided with adequate awareness and information and access to affordable and quality health services, Gabuya added.

Gabuya also stressed that in cases of violence against women and children, women and children victims and survivors shall be provided with comprehensive health services that include psychosocial, therapeutic, medical, and legal interventions and assistance towards healing, recovery, and empowerment.

She also called on the health sector agencies to continue to provide for a comprehensive, culture-sensitive, and gender-responsive health services and programs covering all stages of a woman’s life cycle. This addresses the major causes of women’s mortality and morbidity, she said.

She reminded also that women must maintain a healthy lifestyle and lauded the Local Government of San Simon for giving priority on that aspect.

The Magna Carta of Women upholds the rights of workers in informal economy where majority of whom are women, Gabuya said in her discussion of Social Protection For women in the Informal Economy. Women are most likely to be required to balance the demands of domestic and child rearing activities. Women’s role to balance productive and reproductive work, women decide to tolerate small income, poor working conditions, she stressed.

She also discussed existing laws and policies related to the issue and the enactment of Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Economy (MCMIE). The MCWIE would be consistent with the International convention on Economic, social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) which the Philippine Government ratified. It is also identified as priority legislative measure in the Social Development Chapter of the Philippine Development Plan.

Gabuya lauded the local government of San Simon for putting-up a Learning Center for Women with the groundbreaking ceremony held earlier in the day. The center will be the venue of women activities such as skills training, Gender and Development training and other activities that will promote the rights and protection of women.

Gabuya also cited the following contribution of the DSWD in the promotion of the rights and protection of women: 260,101 female grantees were served under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program as of March 2016; 815 female grantees were served under the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT); 23,354 women availed of services under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in 2015; and 40,531 women served under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISCP).

The forum was in connection with the Women’s Month Celebration with the theme, “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda”. ###

“Ang mga kababaihan ay nawawalan ng kumpyansya sa kanilang mga sarili dahil sa pananakit na pisikal at emosyonal sa kanila. Kaya naman gusto ko magsilbing modelo ng empowerment—maging inspirasyon sa pagbangon nila,” ang nagpanalong sagot kay Ms. Darlyn P. Ang, 37, sa nakaraang Mutya ng Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) noong March 29, 2016 bilang bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Kababaihan. Tubong Bulacan, si Darlyn ay benepisaryo na ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program bago pa naging miyembro ng KALIPI. Ayon sa kanya ay ginamit niya ang kanyang mga natutunan sa Pantawid upang makatulong sa mga kababaihan, lalo na sa mga kapitbahay niyang inaalipusta sapagkat hindi niya nais ang nakakakita ng mga ganoong pangyayari.

“Masaya ako sa pigiging volunteer kung saan nagkakaroon ako ng self-fulfilmeant. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang saya na nadudulot nito sa aking sarili,” a quote from Tata Pio (Romulo P. Alejandro), 73, of Brgy Sta. Rita, Quezon, Nueva Ecija.

An active volunteer for KALAHI CIDSS, Tata Pio was born and raised in Quezon. He is a member of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP) Quezon chapter and president of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) for more than 10 years. He is also a barangay secretary in Barangay Sta Rita, a member of the civil society organization (CSO,) co-chairman of the Bottom up Budgeting Local Poverty Reduction Team (BUB LPRAT) and a Team Leader of all the co-chairperson in the Provincial BUB LPRAT. At the age of 73, he still manages to be active with all the tasks expected from him without asking anything in return.

Tata Pio raised his own family and started working in Metro Manila as an Accounting Staff from 1967 to 1989. But his heart really belongs to serving his municipality, which made him decide to go back and serve the people in his community. He also serves as a Barangay Secretary from the year 2000 to the present.

Whenever KALAHI-CIDSS has an activity, he is always present and encourages people in the barangay to attend both the municipal and the barangay assemblies. “Para sa akin, ang layunin ng KALAHI-CIDSS ay hindi lamang sa pagtulong na umunlad ang isang bayan kundi upang turuan at paunlarin ang kakayahan at isipan ng mga mamamayan. Tinuturuan sila upang magkaisa at matutong tumayo sa kanilang sariling mga paa. At ako ay handang maging instrumento at taos pusong tutulong sa pag-asenso ng mga taga Quezon,” he said.

For him the program’s initiative for bayanihan is a good practice. “Napakalaking bagay ang salitang bayanihan at Ito ay kitang-kita sa programang KALAHI-CIDSS; tinuturuan nito ang mga tao sa barangay na magmalasakit at tumulong sa kanyang komunidad na walang hinihintay na anumang kapalit,” he stressed.

With his other organizations, Tata Pio also does activities that promote bayanihan. He organizes a clean-up project in every purok in their barangay at least once a month. Indeed, being a modern day hero doesn’t require any age, sex or capability.

His voluntary works paid off when the DSWD Field Office III awarded him the “Bayani Ka!” Award for Best Senior Citizen Volunteer. DSWD cited him for rendering voluntary service and invaluable support to Kalahi-CIDSS by advocating community empowerment through Community-Driven Development and for mobilizing his fellow senior citizens to become volunteers and advocates of the program.

Tata Pio has proven that regardless of your age or status in the community, for as long as you have the heart to serve, you can be a bayani. ###

Aurora, among the seven provinces of Region III had the highest compliance rates with regards to health (i.e. 98.99% for Period 6 [December 2015-January 2016]), education (i.e. 96.27% for P6), and even Family Development Session (FDS) (i.e. 96.63).

The high compliance rates were not only because of the commitment of the partner beneficiaries but also because of the commitment given by the partner agencies of DSWD, emphasized Ms. Celine Tongson, Regional Compliance Verification Officer (RCVO), during the Municipal Action Team (MAT) Re-Orientation with partner staff from Department of Education (DepED) and Department of Health (DOH) last March 18, 2016 at the Municipal Hall of Baler, Aurora.

The event was spearheaded by DSWD Pantawid Regional Program Management (RPMO) staff and was attended both by elementary and high school teachers and principals, district supervisors, health workers, and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers (MSWDOs).
The participants were re-oriented on the five fundamental systems of Pantawid, namely, Beneficiary Update System (BUS), Compliance Verification System (CVS), Grievance Redress System (GRS), Supply Side Assessment (SSA), and Payment System.

BUS collects, validates, reports, and lists changes among the beneficiaries of the program. On the other hand, CVS monitors the attendance and compliance of the beneficiaries and his/her children in school, health measures, and in FDS. While, GRS is concern with any condition, circumstance, or expression of dissatisfaction seriously affecting an individual or group of people related to the program. SSA assesses the present condition of the health and education system in city/municipality or barangay levels; it also defines the gaps and needs, and their corresponding solution and recommendation. And, Payment System depends on the CVS; it identifies the beneficiaries entitled to receive grants—payment reconciliation versus compliance.

Another highlight of the activity was the introduction of BUS form or also known as Form 6. It was created for the updating purposes; an official attachment to the CV Form 2 (education form) and CVF 3 (health form). Ms. Tongson also tackled the decentralization of Compliance Verification (CV) monitoring process which targets to the grants to the entitled beneficiaries of Pantawid in approximately 15 days from collection to payout as compare to the approximately 35-day process now.
Before the actual payout, there are still five processes that needs be done, after the end of monitoring period, namely: CV generation (currently: ˜five days, target: ˜three days); collection and submission of forms (currently: ˜8 days, target: 4 days); encoding of data (currently: ˜five days, target: ˜four days); recommendation, approval, Notice of Approval Payroll Adjustment (NAPA), and payroll computation (currently: ˜6.5 days, target: three days); and payroll generation and approval (currently: ˜nine days, target: 4 days).
“Natutuwa ako at natulungan kami ng programang ito. May mga teachers na umiikot sa bawat silid aralan. Masaya akong kahit papano ay tumaas ng kaunti ang aming compliance rates. And the same time na-challenge akong mas i-improve pa ito (I am glad that this program had helped us. There are teachers roaming around in every class rooms. I am happy that at least our compliance rates rose even little. And at the same time, I am challenged to improve it),” said Ms. Marietta Alviar, PSDS of Baler.
The municipality of Baler had 96.3% compliance rate in education as compare to the 98.53% compliance rate of the municipality of Dinalungan, based from the P6 bi-monthly result and trend.

Then later, before the awarding of certificates of recognition, there was an orientation on Youth Development Session (YDS). YDS is a monthly session that aims to cater both the educational and social needs of the adolescent beneficiaries of Pantawid. It aims to bring out their potential skills that will lead to better employment, thus, securing the future of the youth.
The idea was welcomed by all the participants. They even suggested that there should be an integrated Parent-Child Participatory Sessions which was later revealed as one of the best practice of the Municipality of Dilasag, as part of their FDS.
“Nakikita ko na sa mga susunod na panahon, sa tulong ng YDS ay mas magiging responsible pa sa kanilang mga sarili at sa ibang pang areas ng buhay ang g aming mga kabataan (I can now see that sooner or later, with the help of YDS our youth will further be responsible with regards to dealing with themselves and to other areas in life),” said Ms. April Charm Isip, a Guidance Councilor in Aurora who was one of the trained Resource Persons during the pilot test of YDS last 2015.### ((Andyleen C. Feje)

Representatives of the partner national government agencies (NGAs) and staff of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office III played Cupid, for they assisted every single child to look for a toy that is close to their hearts; Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) went to Barangay Buhangin, Baler to hand out toys, sponsored by SM Foundation, to 218 Typhoon-affected children last March 3, 2016.

Looking, both at the faces of the beneficiaries and the members of RAC, is like seeing a live pounding heart; they have not just shared toys, but they have shared joy. Toy is a vital instrument that fosters the development of a child’s physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being for it stimulates creativity.

Share a toy, Make a child happy is a joint project of The SM Store and Toy Kingdom in
partnership with SM Foundation and DSWD. For every Php500.00 single receipt purchase on regularly priced toys from SM and Toy Kingdom entitles one to a PhP500.00 off coupon valid until January 31, 2016. Maximum of 10 coupons will be given per transaction.

The remaining toys, from the 10 boxes, will be given to the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) grantees’ children. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)