The convergence effort of DSWD Provincial Extension Office Bulacan and its initiative have ensured that the programs and services of the Department are delivered to clients in a timely and systematic manner. DPEO Bulacan, headed by Ms. Feliza V. Esguerra, Provincial Team Leader, acting as One Team, having One Goal, resulting to One Bulacan renders quality and efficient programs and services to the Bulakenyos and achieves the DSWD’s thrusts and priorities.

In 2016, the Community-Based Programs and Rehabilitation Services was catered 187 special cases; 174 new cases and 13 old cases. These clients received proper interventions and services in order to cope up with the problems they were involved in. Counseling, referral to appropriate care and support centers, provision of financial assistance, and/or recommendations were given depending on the assessed needs of the clients. Furthermore, the community-based social workers served 37 cases associated with Women in Especially Difficult Circumstances; 32 new cases and 5 old cases. These women who were victims of different kinds of abuse were provided counseling and referred to their respective municipalities for monitoring and after care services.

The Expanded Assistance of Individual in Crisis Situation (E-AICS) served 12,990 clients with fund utilization amounting to Php 48,105,500.00 in the year 2016. As an update, for the year 2017, there are 15,005 clients served with a total cash assistance of Php 58,098,000.00. The clients were provided medical, educational, burial, and transportation assistance funded by DSWD. Aside from the provision of financial assistance, some of the clients were referred to other partner agencies for further provision of services needed. Clients were also given counseling by the Social Welfare Officers II as need arises.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM) was successfully able to utilized 80% of the funds allocated for the 1^st wave (2015) which served 18,421 beneficiaries amounting to Php 36,673,560.00 and 100% utilization for the 2^nd wave (2016) with 12,328 clients served amounting Php 33,039,040.00. For the 3^rd wave (2017), 35% of its fund allocation is on-going in its implementation.  The remaining CCAM fund allocated to LGU’s for the 3^rd wave are being focused by the program focal persons through constant follow-up to the regional office, and feed backing status of releasing of checks to the LSWDOs.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, being the central to the Department’s poverty reduction and social protection strategy, the program has 67,894 target clients with fund allocation of Php 1,038,778,200.00 but the total actual funded are 414,938 beneficiaries for the whole year amounting to Php 912,317,100.00. With the actual funded, DPEO Bulacan was able to utilized Php 890,511,800 or 97.61% of the actual fund allocation which served 404,387 Pantawid household beneficiaries in Bulacan. With the almost 4% unpaid household beneficiaries, the Municipal Rooving Bookkeepers (MRB), with the coordination with the City/Municipal Action Team (C/MAT) Leaders, solicit the reasons of the unpaid cases. Hence, conduct of home visitations to the unpaid cases are done to validate the reasons and to ensure 100% utilization of funds on the next payout. Further, given the three conditions of the program, DPEO Bulacan garnered an average compliance rating of 86.87% on education, 93.46% on health, and 93.65% on family development session, in the year 2016.

Relative to the Social Welfare and Development Indicators (SWDI) conducted in the year 2015, there were 62,745 Pantawid household beneficiaries who were administered and assessed by SWDI. According to the result, there were 1534 households in survival level (Level 1), 48,038 households who fall in subsistence level (level 2), and 13,170 households who are in self-sufficient level (level 3). With the directives of the regional office, household beneficiaries who were assessed as level 1 and 2 were considered as gaps which are needed to be given interventions in order to uplift their lives, giving priority to the Level 1 household beneficiaries.

During the year 2016, the Sustainable Livelihood Program has delivered different livelihood assistance thru micro-enterprise development (MD) and employment facilitation (EF). The program has successfully accomplished 117.59% or Php 37,472,175.12 of the funds allotted for modality micro-enterprise development. Contrary to the success of MD projects, there were only 17.24% utilization rate amounting to Php 15,445,925.00 for the EF projects. With this utilization, SLP only accomplished Php 52,918,100.12 or 43.56% of the fund allocation.

The Social Pension Program, in the year 2016, has target of 12,179 social pensioners with fund allocation amounting to Php 76,308,000.00. Due to the additional available slot for social pensioners, DPEO Bulacan was able to served 14,538 qualified senior citizen/social pensioners with fund utilization of Php 87,228,000.00 or 114% of the fund allocation. The prompt information dissemination of the DPEO Bulacan to its respective LSWDOs enable to acquire the available slots and to serve more indigent senior citizens in the province.

Over the years, DPEO Bulacan has exemplary performed in the implementation of DSWD’s programs and services. In fact, the operation office and its staff have received different awards and recognition not only from the Regional and National DSWD office but also from partner stakeholders who appreciated the partnership and efforts of DPEO Bulacan in reaching the shared goal of uplifting the lives of poor families.

CSC’s HAP Awards is set on 12 September 2018. Are you going to bet for them? Find out more about DPEO Bulacan and follow their story in our official website and Facebook account until September 12, 2018.

DPEO Bulacan is being supervised by its Provincial Team Leader Feliza V. Esguerra under the leadership of DSWD Field Office III Regional Director Gemma B. Gabuya.

Story by: Nielady Gianina P. Cacanindin | Photo from: DPEO Bulacan

The DSWD Provincial Extension Office of Bulacan (DPEO Bulacan) have shown exemplary performance over the years. This is evident because of the different recognition awarded to the office both in the the Regional and National level. Awards received include: Best Social Welfare and Development Office Team Leader – Regional Level (2012), Best Community-Based Social Worker – National Level (2013), Best Provincial Action Team – Regional Level (2014), Best Sustainable Livelihood Program Association – Regional Level (2015), 2^nd Runner Up on the Best Functioning Municipal Action Team – National Level (2015), Entry for the Best Convergence Initiative – National Level (2016), and Best Operations Office – DSWD PRAISE Awards (2017).

With the adaptation of Operationalization of Memorandum Circular No. 14 and the Creation of the DSWD Provincial Extension Office (Memorandum Circular 003), DPEO Bulacan was able to render programs and services available in the province to the clients in a systematic and efficient process. The key programs and services of the office are: Social Protection Services, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Social Pension (SocPen), Expanded Assistance of Individual in Crisis Situation (E-AICS) and Disaster Response and Assistance Management (DReAM).

DPEO Bulacan built and sustained a strong working relationship with the Local Government Units, Non-Government Agencies and Civil Service Organizations in Bulacan. They work hand-in-hand in ensuring that the vision, mission, and goals of the Department will come to fruition.  This conjunction is greatly seen in the good practices of the office. They advocate for Convergence and use the same as a strategic tool through regular conduct of Technical Assistance and Resource Augmentations and Provincial Advisory Committee Meetings. This approach enabled the office to maximize their shared expertise and ensures quality delivery of services to clients. According to them, they uphold collaboration is one of their shared values.

Selfless dedication and passion for service qualifies DPEO Bulacan to be recognized as Civil Service Commission Pagasa Awardee. It is true that when you put the interest of the people and of the department first, fulfilling rewards such as satisfied clients are the collective return of investments of the office. As the famous remarks of Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”, the office is committed either do what they love or love what they do. This eventually resulted to a positive interdependent team environment that brought out the best in each of the members. Thus, the empowered, well-served Bulakenyos.

CSC’s HAP Awards is set on 12 September 2018. Are you going to bet for them? Find out more about DPEO Bulacan and follow their story in our official website and Facebook account until September 12, 2018.

DPEO Bulacan is being supervised by its Provincial Team Leader Feliza V. Esguerra under the leadership of DSWD Field Office III Regional Director Gemma B. Gabuya.

Story by: Nielady Gianina P. Cacanindin | Photo by: Jeffrey Tinagan

The DSWD Provincial Extension Office of Bulacan (DPEO Bulacan) was recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development during its 2017 PRAISE Awards as Best Operations Office. The award was given early in 2018. This is the recognition of exemplary DSWD employees for their commitment and dedication to public service through the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) 2017.

This achievement brought motivation and overflowing inspiration for DSWD Field Office III – but it doesn’t stop there. DPEO Bulacan was nominated in Civil Service Comission’s Search for Outstanding Government Worker 2018 or the “Honor Awards Program: Hero ang Public Servant”

The nominee falls under the category: Civil Service Commission Pagasa (Pagasa) Award (Group Category). The deserving awardee should exhibit outstanding contribution/s resulting from an idea or performance that directly benefit more than one.

The following are the criteria for the said award:

1. Noteworthiness of Outstanding Performance/Contribution – The degree of uniqueness and originality of outstanding performance or contribution/s.
2. Impact of Performance/Achievement – The extent to which the idea, suggestion, innovation or invention is being used and its result; the number of persons who benefited; the paradigm shift it has caused and the amount of money saved.
3. Reliability and Effectiveness – The extent to which the innovation/idea has effectively and efficiently addressed a pressing need/improved service delivery.
4. Consistency of Performance – The degree of consistency manifested by consistent outstanding performance based on historical data/work record.
5. Demonstrated Teamwork, Cooperation, Camaraderie and Cohesiveness (for group nominations) – The extent the group members motivate and support each other or the degree to which group members positively influence each other.

What does DPEO Bulacan has to be deserving of this award? Do they have what it takes to oust other regional nominees? Find out all about them and follow their story in our official website and Facebook account from August 30 – September 12, 2018.

DPEO Bulacan is being supervised by its Provincial Team Leader Feliza V. Esguerra under the leadership of DSWD Field Office III Regional Director Gemma B. Gabuya.

“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.

#DSWDMayMalasakit #DSWDParaSaNakararami #DSWDTres #DSWDKalingaAtPagmamahal

“Marami po akong natutunan sa KALAHI na talagang nagagamit ko ngayon sa grupo namin na SLP,” wika ni Anita, President ng SLP Association – Veggie Noodles Production.

QUEZON, NUEVA ECIJA—Labing siyam (19) na residente ng Brgy. San Miguel, Quezon Nueva Ecija ang nakatanggap ng pondo na nagkakahalagang Php92,397 mula sa isa sa mga programa ng DSWD na Sustainable Livelihood Program para sa proyektong pangkabuhayan na Veggie Noodles Production.

Karamihan sa mga residenteng ito ay mga benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program. Sa programang ito, ang mga benepisyaryo ay naging aktibo sa pakikilahok sa mga gawain ng komunidad dahil sa malimit silang ipinapatawag sa mga pagpupulong at mga diskusyon ukol sa pagpapaunlad ng kanilang sarili o mas kilala rin sa tawag na Family Development Session (FDS).

Nang dahil dito sila ay namulat sila sa kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng kusa sa pakikipag-isa sa lokal na pamahalaan at maging sa kanilang kinabibilangang barangay. Sila ay nahikayat na maging Community Volunteers sa programang KALAHI CIDSS (o Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Servicse).

Isa rin ito sa mga programa ng DSWD na naglalayong mapalakas ang mga local na komunidad sa pamamagitan ng paghikayat sa mga mamamayan na makilahok sa pagresolba ng mga isyu at problemang nararanasan ng lugar, partikular na sa barangay. Sa pakikilahok sa mga gawain ng programa at iba’t ibang pagpupulong ay mas lalong natuto ang mga residente. Isa sa kanilang mga natutunan ay ang proseso ng paggawa project proposals. Kung saan sila mismo ang magbibigay ng solusyon sa nakita nilang problema sa lugar sa pamamagitan ng proyekto.

Ang project proposal ay naglalaman ng mga kadahilanan sa pagsisimula ng proyekto, sino ang mga lalahok, mga inaasahang resulta, at karampatang pondo na kinakailangan sa paglunsad ng proyekto. Sa papamagitan ng Participatory Situational Analysis (PSA) na bahagi ng programang KALAHI CIDSS, ang mga volunteers ay nagsagawa ng pag-aaral ukol sa mga problemang kinakaharap ng kanilang barangay. Isa na nga rito ang kakulangan sa permanenteng pagkukunan ng ikabubuhay ng mga residente dahil pagsasaka ang karaniwang hanapbuhay ng mga ito, na kung taguria’y seasonal na uri ng trabaho. Dahil madalang ang panahon ng pagsasaka, madalang din ang panahon na mayroong kita ang mga residente. Samantala, ang ilan sa kanila ay maimbintahan na dumalo ng Livelihood Training sa kalapit na bayan ng Sto. Domingo; sila ay nabahaginan ng kaalaman sa paggawa ng Veggie Noodles. Isang klase ng noodles na may sangkap na gulay gaya ng kalabasa at malunggay.

Ang paggawa nito ay maaaring maging kabuhayan ng mga mamayan sa kanilang lugar. Kaya naman napagpasyahan nilang gumawa ng project proposal upang matugunan ang pangangailangan na ito. Dahil sa kanilang kaalaman sa paggawa ng project proposal, ito ay maayos na dumaan sa proseso at nababaan ng pondo sa tulong na din ng mga kawani ng ahensya gaya ng Project Development Officer ng SLP, Municipal Link ng Pantawid Pamilya, at Area Coordinator ng KALAHI CIDSS. Ang kilos na ito ay tinatawag na Convergence Strategy kung saan ang tatlong programa ng DSWD nakasentro sa pagpapaunlad ng antas ng buhay ng mamamayang Pilipino—nagtutulong-tulong para sa mas epektibong resulta ng pagbabago. Isa nga ang SLP Association ng Veggie Noodles Production sa mga halimbawa nito.

#DSWDMayMalasakit

#DSWDParaSaNakararami

#4PsDiTamad

#SLPBeneficiaries

#KalahiVolunteers

#DSWDTres

#ConvergenceInitiative

(City of San Fernando, Pampanga) More Than 2,000 day care workers in the seven provinces and 14 cities of Central Luzon converged at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in this city in celebration of the 33^rd Regional assembly of Day Care Workers with the theme, “ Day Care Workers: Sa Matapat, Mahusay, at Magiliw na Paglilingkod, Kakayahan at Kagalingan ng mga Bata ay Sigurado  ”.

The annual assembly, which was spearheaded by the Regional Federation of Day Care Workers and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III (DSWD FO III), seeks to familiarize and promote camaraderie among the day care workers in the region.

The event was also aimed to strengthen the partnership with the families, local government units (LGUs) and community and also to familiarize them with Republic Act 7610 Also Known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

DSWD FO III Director Gemma B. Gabuya of the DSWD Field Office III lauded the day care workers for their contribution in the physical, social, and intellectual development of the pre-school children. She added that the Day Care Service is a part of the government social protection mandate for pre-school children.

Gabuya also assured the day care workers that the DSWD is continuously advocating for the passage of the Magna Carta of Day Care Workers.

Meanwhile, Maribeth Ortiz, MSWDO of Guagua Pampanga shared the Municipality of Guagua’s Best Practice in the Implementation Of Day Care Service.

The highlights of the event were the dance competition among the provincial/city day care federation chapters where Zambales won the first place while San Jose del Monte City won the first place in the Draw and Tell contest.

The event, which was hosted by the Province of Pampanga, was part of the observance of the Day Care Workers Week which is being observed on the first week of June of every year. The celebration, which is mandated by Presidential Proclamation No. 404 series of 2003, recognizes the vital role of the day care workers in the promotion of the rights of children. ### (Social Marketing Unit)