“Malakas na pamilya ang bumubuo sa malakas na bansa. Kung ano ang nangyayari sa lipunan ay sinasalamin lang nito ang mga pangyayari sa bawat tahanan (Strong family entails a strong nation. The condition in a country mirrors the occurrences in every family),” said Ptr. Arnold Pascual during the Couples’ Day Off last February 27-28, 2016 at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Quezon, Nueva Ecija.

It was a Post Valentine Activity spearheaded by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Municipal Action Team (MAT) of Quezon Nueva Ecija of the DSWD Field Office III in partnership with Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Multi-Skills Training Institute of the Philippines Incorporated (MTIPI), Victory Church of Cabanatuan, and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Quezon, with all intent to light the fire of love of the Pantawid beneficiary couples.

This was a pilot activity attended by 37 couples from the different barangays of the municipality of Quezon. It was aimed to let the couples’ voice out phrases that they missed to say in their everyday life since they were already centered to the well-being of their children. They were also given a chance to reminisce and bring back their teenage romantic moments; they exchange love letters and danced under the light of a bonfire.

The venue was filled with tears and laughter as each couple recall their past experience and encountered moments. To completely forget all their resentment for their partners, the participants were asked to write it in piece of paper and then let it be ashes and be blown away by the wind.

“Marami akong baong natutunan na pwede kong i-apply sa aking sarili at sa aming mag-asawa (I will take home a lot of learnings that I can apply to myself and to us as a couple),” said Annie Rose Paloma, 19, wife of Jimboy Corpuz, 23. They were the youngest couple among the throng.
The participants also received lectures and seminars on matrimonial relationship, good communication, and the roles and responsibilities of a husband/wife. But among all the activities, the highlight of the program was the couples’ renewals of vows.

“Maligayang maligaya ako at mas lalo pang nadagdagan ang aming kaalaman tungkol sa tiwala at pagmamahal (I am overjoyed for we gained additional understanding about trust and love),” said Marcelina Santos. “Pag-uwi namin, tulad ng mga bagong kasal, kami ay magho-honey moon (When we got home, just like the newlyweds, we are going to have a honeymoon,” said Mariolito Santos. The couple was awarded as the sweetest of all; they were 28 years married.

The event ended with a gift giving to the newlyweds. It was a bedding set: a mat, which symbolizes purity or loyalty for it should not be stained; a blanket, which symbolizes warmth; and a mosquito net, which symbolizes their submission to God. They were also given PhP500.00 each, as a compensation for their supposedly working hours.

“Natutuwa kaming successful ang event dahil mag-asawa nang uuwi ang mga participants, ‘di tulad nang pumunta sila rito na parang magkasama lang (We are happy that this event was a success since the participants will now go home as a couple, not just a mere comrade like when they arrive yesterday),” said Ms. Jocelyn Sebastian, Municipal Link ### (Andyleen C. Feje)

“There are a lot of children waiting for the permanent love and care of a parent. As according to our family code ‘the family is foundation of our nation that is why we need to strengthen it. And the reason why we are celebrating this Adoption Consciousness Week is to have more families who will open their hearts and doors to our children,” said Dir. Gemma Gabuya, during the Adoption Consciousness Week held last February 15, 2016 at WalterMart, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

Currently there are 78 children in the Reception Center for Children and a total number of 65 Non-Government Organizations who are caring for neglected and abandoned children, in Region III.
The theme of the celebration was “Legal na Ampon Ako, Anak na Totoo.”

“We are not after the genes anymore. Our heart beats for the child, the same way it beats for God,” shared Mr. Michael Dennis Sucgang, an Adoptive Parent, during his testimonial.
As per Presidential Proclamation No. 72, series of 1999, the celebration of Adoption Consciousness Day is every first Saturday of the month of February. However, for the year 2016, it was observed from February 15 to 21.

The celebration was intended to advance and deepen the public awareness with regards to legal adoption of the abandoned, surrendered, and neglected children to move away potential foster and adoptive parents in submitting to the temptation of illegal adoption.

The process of legal adoption is defined by many as lengthy; it actually has 12 steps (see RA 8552 for complete details).

The most common stigma or misconceptions about adoption, discussed by Ms. Michelle Gormley, are: it is only for those who are rich and have enough money to complete the adoption process; children of the foster/adoptive parents will suffer; and, orphans, abandoned and foster children are damaged goods who will eventually cause problems for it is in their blood. But, as Ms. Gormley emphasized, orphans and abandoned children are no different from other children, their path of life can be driven by external factors like the environment but they still have their free will just like any other human beings, just like Mark Rafael Arceo, an Adoptive Child; “I still wanted to meet my birth parents for that would make a more complete human being,” he said, during his testimonial.

At the end of the day, what other people can do to help them is to choose to love and take care of them rather that judge them. “Adoption should not be the least option to have a child,” said Mr. Sucgang. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)

Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III is currently implementing its Barangay Sub-Project of two (2) units Classroom at Barangay Mataas na Kahoy, Gen. Mamerto Natividad, Nueva Ecija. The barangay was one of the fourteen 14 sub-projects who were prioritized for the 1st cycle with a total project cost of Php1,658,200.00.

“Sa aming barangay, kami ay may tatlong kababaihan na kasama sa construction at talaga naming buong lakas na nagtatrabaho at tumutulong sa mga kalalakihan upang matapos agad ang aming proyekto”, Barangay Captain Gemeniano Narcisso.

Barangay Mataas Na Kahoy has three (3) female volunteers in the construction site. They work as helpers, just like the other men volunteers. It used to be a rotation duty for women volunteers but due to heavy load of work, other women volunteers stopped working at the construction, leaving the three women volunteers. These are Arlene Villabriga, 26; Lovelyn Sortiz, 35; and Zenaida Cleope, 50.

“Ipinagmamalaki ko na ako ay isang volunteer ng KALAHI CIDSS. Hindi ko inakala na pwede akong tumulong sa pagpapatayo ng sub-project naming ditto sa barangay sa kabila ng aking edad. Hindi ko maikubli ang aking kagalakan na ako ay parte para maisakatuparan ang aming pangarap. Pakikinabangan ito ng napakaraming bata kabilang na ang aking mga apo”, Zeaida Cleope. Zenaida, a widow was a former Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiary when her four (4) children were still studying. Her strong urge to do something for the community was developed through Pantawid, and was further strengthened though Kalahi-CIDSS.

The sub-project of Barangay Mataas na Kahoy is now on-going, and now on its 70% completion rate. ### (Jennie DC. Piedra)

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)

City of San Fernanado, Pampanga – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) awarded Jaen Nueva Ecija in the recent Gawad Listahanan under the municipal government category during the 65th DSWD anniversary.
Gawad Listahanan is an award that aims to recognize LGUs as the Department’s data sharing partners and advocates of objective targeting of social protection beneficiaries. It confers award to LGUs for providing services and assistance to the Listahanan identified poor families and promotes the complementation and convergence of all social protection stakeholders on the identified poor to effectively address the different aspects of poverty.

The contest has three categories: Municipal, City and Provincial Government category.

According to Paperlyn U. Pablo, MSWDO, the municipality appreciated the Listahanan Database shared by the DSWD on the List of Poor Households in the community. On 2014, the database for the list of poor households was received. Based on Listahanan database, a total of 10,289 poor women in Municipality of Jaen were registered. Maybe not all poor women needs to be empowered, not all of them needs assistance, not all of them are willing to change their lifestyles but the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Jaen believes that we have to do our parts to locate those identified poor women, determine their current situations, create program and services that will benefit those in vulnerable conditions to uplift their way of living.

The Listahanan served as main source of the MSWD Office in the provision of basic social services since 2013. The validation of identified 10,289 poor women as part of sectoral group was facilitated by the Listahanan volunteers, KALIPI officers and MSWDO staff. It was found out that more than 35% of names listed are children/girls but majority belongs to poor households.

Formulation of advocacy campaign was facilitated which then was called “Listahanan Habit”. All Barangay Councils of LGU Jaen were encouraged to use the Listahanan database as their reference in strategic planning and providing services to their poor constituents. In order to understand and realize the importance of Listahanan database, the MSWDO conducted orientation to all Barangay Captains of Jaen together with the Local Chief Executive. The printed copy of Listahanan database was awarded and shared to them after the orientation. In order for the people be familiarized with the project, tarpaulins on “Listahanan Habit” were hanged in MSWD office and barangay halls as part of the advocacy.

The municipality of Jaen received cash prize and a plaque. ### (F.T. Sanga, Jr.)

“Higit sa lahat, nagpapasalamat din ako sa ngalan ng mga Senior Citizens sa aming barangay na isa sa mga nakabenepisyo ng bagong serbisyo pagde-deliver ng aming pension sa aming bahay.”

Rosario Resulta, 78 years old stressed in her testimony during the culminating activity of the DSWD’s 65th Anniversary celebration at Malacanang Palace on February 2.

Nanay Charing of Brgy. Abagon, Gerona, Tarlac became the sole breadwinner of her family after her husband’s death in 1964. She has four children- three are now married and one single who assist in taking care of his brother-in-law since he suffered stroke.

Ako po at lahat ng pamilya ng aking mga anak ay masasabing mahirap. Dati akong caretaker ng isang pamilya ngunit kalaunan ay naging palipat-lipat sa aking mga anak at kamag-anak. Nagtinda rin ako ng mga gulay sa palengke. At kahit madali nang mapagod dahil sa katandaan, nagpatuloy pa din ako upang hindi maging pabigat sa aking mga anak. Tumigil lang po ako at nakapagpahinga kahit papaano nang magsimula akong tumanggap ng social pension, Nanay Charing said.

Nanay Charing is one of the 69,513 indigent senior citizens served under the Social Pension Program in Central Luzon in 2015. She is also one of the 32,460 older persons from Central Luzon who now benefits from the door-to-door delivery of stipends/grants under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) that started in October 2015.

The door-to-door scheme developed after the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was executed between the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III (DSWD FO III) and the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), a private commercial banking corporation.

On October 26, 2015, DSWD Field Office III Regional Director Gemma B. Gabuya, Director Pacita Sarino of the DSWD-Protective Services Bureau, San Felipe MSWDO Rowell Villanueva, and representatives from Veterans Bank led the first door-to-door delivery of the SPISC stipends in San Felipe, Zambales.

Victoria Dumaual and Amado Acenas of Barangay Amagna, San Felipe, Zambales are among the 32,460 senior citizens who will benefit from this scheme. “Malaking tulong po ito sa amin dahil dito na mismo sa bahay dadalhin ang pension ng nanay ko,” said Domingo Dumaual, son of the 79-year-old Victoria Dumaual, the first beneficiary who received her grant through this scheme.

Amado Acenas, 80 years old is another social pensioner who received his grant through the door-to-door delivery. Amado’s wife, Lapaz Acenas said this is a great relief for her because she will no longer go to town during the pay-out. “Four years nang nakaratay ang asawa ko dahil naatake sya at malaking ginhawa ito sa akin dahil namamasukan ako bilang tagalinis ng isang bahay. Malaking tulong po ang pension ng mister ko dahil di sapat ang kinikita kong P2,000 sa isang buwan,” Mrs. Acenas added.

Mary Jean Balico, head of Social Pension Unit said that the DSWD FO III some 32,460 seniors aged 65 and above in selected cities and municipalities in Central Luzon benefited from this scheme. The seniors were among the identified beneficiaries of SPISC based on the result of the data generated by the Listahanan or National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) of the DSWD.

DSWD, the lead agency in the implementation of the SPISC, has identified PVB which has the capabilities to perform the service of distributing the cash grants/stipends to SPISC beneficiaries in selected cities and municipalities in the region. PVB was procured through public bidding and the MOA is in accordance to RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The PVB has started implementing the pay-out of the grants/stipends to SPISC beneficiaries via door-to-door delivery in their respective addresses in accordance with the master list from DSWD. Pay-out should be completed within 30 calendar days from PVB’s receipt of the check and master list.

Based on the MOA, PVB shall release the grant only to the SPISC beneficiary and will not release the grant to a representative even if armed with a special power of attorney. PVB shall only pay beneficiaries who have complied with the requirements.

DSWD shall pay PVB a service fee of P100.00 for every grant/stipend successfully delivered and paid out.

To date, there are 64,288 indigent senior citizens who are benefiting from SPISC in Region III. Other means of disbursing the grants are through pay-out or fund transfer to the local government units (LGUs).

The grant/stipend under the SPISC is an additional government assistance given to indigent senior citizens pursuant to Republic Act No. 9994 also known as Expanded Senior citizens Act of 2010. It aims to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of Filipino indigent senior citizens.

Under the operational guidelines issued by the DSWD, senior citizens who are 65 years old and above and who meet the eligibility criteria will benefit from this program. All qualified senior citizens shall receive their P500 monthly social pension on a quarterly basis in the first month of each quarter.

Indigent senior citizens are those who are frail, sick, disabled, not receiving monthly pension from Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (AFPSLAI) and other private insurance companies. Senior citizens who do not have permanent source of income or regular support from their families or relatives are also qualified to avail of the program.

“Labis po ang aking pasasalamat sa ating Pangulong Aquino at sa DSWD dahil sa pagpapatupad at pagpapalawak ng sakop ng Social Pension program. Talagang napakalaking tulong po nito sa amin,” Nanay Charing said.

Higit sa lahat, nagpapasalamat din ako sa ngalan ng mga Senior Citizens sa aming barangay na isa sa mga nakabenepisyo ng bagong serbisyo na pagde-deliver ng aming pension sa aming bahay. Hindi na po kami nahihirapan sa pamasahe at sa pagpila, lalo na po at ang iba sa amin ay may sakit at naka-wheelchair na. Muli po ay pinaabot ko ang taos-pusong pasasalamat at nawa ay magpatuloy at lumawak pa ang serbisyong ito, Nanay Charing concluded. ###

City of San Fernando, Pampanga—Director Roy Calfoforo, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) focal in charge of programs and partnerships with NGOs, said that ‘Philippines became an International model of Family Development Session (FDS) in Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program.’

The Regional Civil Society Organization (CSO) was spearheaded by DSWD last January 29, 2016 at Citybelt, Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

The event was conducted in line with the department’s thrust program Active Civil Society Organizations engagement with Bantay, Gabay, Kaagapay at Tulay concept. DSWD recognizes the CSOs as its active partners in successfully implementing the services programs of the department.

One of the biggest roles of the CSOs is being the facilitator in the Family Development Session (FDS) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Since most of the partner CSOs of the department are faith-based organization, they helped on molding the moral and spiritual being of the program’s beneficiaries.

“Giving them numerous grants is worthless if their [the beneficiaries’] attitude and values would not be developed,” said Dir. Calfoforo. He also recognizes that the CSOs unlike other Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) are functional even without fund source, for they always have their own way of performing deeds. Having cited the importance of the CSOs, they then lobbied their sentiment on transportation allowance, IDs, and uniforms. Dir. Calfoforo responded that such can be resolved on the regional level where the Travel Expense Voucher (TEV) of the CSOs can be included the Financial Workplan of the Regional Office. Ms. Tomasa Lirio, the Program Coordinator of Pantawid in Region III then directly asked for the aid on approving the proposal of the Regional office—that the fund will directly come from the Office of the Secretary, which was nodded upon by Dir. Calfoforo. She also reminded the CSOs to use the supposed IDs and uniforms only during session facilitation, in case, which was agreed upon by the CSOs.

The assemblage ended with the presentation of the CSOs Work Plans per province that will serve as a basis on the consolidation of the Regional Work Plan for 2016, which was followed by the signing of the Renewal of Commitments of the CSO members. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)

(City of San Fernando, Pampanga) Some P11, 604,908.40 worth of relief goods has been provided to the victims of typhoon Nona which occurred on December 15 affecting six (6) provinces of Central Luzon.

As of December 19, 5:00 pm disaster monitoring report, DSWD Field Office III reported that the assistance came from the DSWD and local government units (LGUs). Of the said amount, P8, 972,968.40 worth of relief goods came from the DSWD; P2,131,640.00 from the local government units (LGUs) of affected towns; and P500,000.00 from the Provincial Government of Aurora. The content of the DSWD family food packs are rice, assorted canned goods, and coffee.

As part of its augmentation support to the LGUs, the DSWD has likewise prepositioned 1,000 family food packs each to the eight (8) municipalities of the 4th District of Pampanga. This is in preparation for the preemptive evacuation of families who will be most likely affected by flooding due to continuous rains.

Likewise, the DSWD Central Office has sent 40,000 family food packs to augment the resources of the Field Office. Of this, 10,000 was delivered directly to the Provincial Government of Nueva Ecija, 10,000 to Aurora, another 10,000 for the regional office for the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan and another 10,000 food packs as standby supplies for additional requirements of any municipalities in Nueva Ecija which may need additional food assistance.
The DSWD Central Office has likewise sub-allotted P10 million standby fund for the region which can be used to purchase locally emergency relief supplies.

Nona has affected 131,358 families composed of 606,669 persons from 35 municipalities in six (6) provinces of Central Luzon. Nueva Ecija, the hardest hit province has 73,215 families affected followed by Pampanga with 26,479 families and Bulacan with 25,645.

Of the total affected, 11,246 families composed of 54,664 persons are still staying in 149 evacuation centers (ECs) in the region. Of these, 9,175 families are occupying 117 evacuation centers in Nueva Ecija; 1,518 families in 12 ECs in Bulacan; 138 families in 13 ECs in Aurora; 410 families in six ECs in Pampanga; and five families in one EC in Bataan. In addition, 51,911 are being served outside the evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, the DSWD quick response teams (QRT) which were activated before the onset of the typhoon have been closely monitoring the situation in the affected areas and closely coordinate with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (DRRMC) in their respective areas of assignment. ### (Evelyn T. Manalo)