City of San Fernando, Pampanga – Dumalaw si DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo sa DSWD Field Office III kahapon, October 19, upang siguraduhing handa ang ahensiya sa mga posibleng epekto ng Bagyong #LawinPH.

Pinangunahan ng kalihim ang puspusang pagplaplano para sa darating na bagyo. Ayon sa kanya, huwag limitahan ang pangangalap ng datos ng mga nasalanta sa numero o statistics ng mga biktima at nangangailangan ng tulong. Bilang social workers, dapat ay alamin natin ang kalagayan ng mga biktima at ng kanilang mga pamilya upang maibigay ang kanilang pangangailangan.

Ang ahensya ay nagbibigay ng mga family packs, food items, at non-food items sa mga kababayan nating direktang apektado ng bagyo. Bukas din ang mga evacuation centers ng lokal na pamahalaan para sa mga mamamayang kinakailangang lumikas sa kani-kanilang tahanan.

Isa rin sa mga binigyang-diin ng kalihim ang paninigurado ng kalagayan ng mga kawani ng DSWD na nasa Quick Response Team (QRT).

Isa ang Region 3, partikular na ang Northern Aurora, sa mga lugar na madadaanan at makakaranas ng hagupit ng Bagyong Lawin. ### (Ma. Dennielle M. Lomboy)

Ms. Florentina Calalang, OIC-Chief of the Operations and Program Division of the DSWD Field Office III received PhilHealth Lifetime Membership during the Elderly Filipino Week celebration held in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, October 7.

Ms. Calalang, who has spent more than 28 years of government service at the DSWD Field Office III, will be retiring this month.

The awarding was one of the highlights of the celebration with the theme, ”Pagmamahal at Respeto ng Nakababata Nagpapaligaya sa Nakatatanda,”

The Lifetime Membership is given to individuals aged 60 years and above and have paid at least 120 monthly contributions with PhilHealth and the former Medicare Programs of SSS and GSIS; Uniformed personnel aged 56 years and above and have paid at least 120 monthly contributions with PhilHealth and the former Medicare Programs of SSS and GSIS, said Ms. Ruby Vitug of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Region III. ### (Evelyn T. Manalo)

Mula sa labing walong pamilya a iba’t-ibang rehiyon ng bansa, tinanghal ang Bulso Family, mula sa Barangay Dibutunan, Dipaculao, Aurora na isa sa mga limang nanguna sa (4th runner-up) Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya, ngayong araw, October 1, 2016 sa Commission on Audit (COA) Sport and Cultural Center, Quezon City, bilang bahagi ng selebrasyon ng National Family Day.

Ang naturang nasyonal na paligsahan ay naglalayong kilalanin ang mga huwarang pamilya – mga pamilyang may matatag na samahan na ang pundasyon ay pagmamahalan, sa buong Pilipinas; at mga mahihirap na pamilyang Pilipino na nagsusumikap na tumaas ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay, at magbigay ng mas magandang bukas.

“Sa pamilya tayo nagiging tao, sa pamilya rin nahuhubog ang ating pagkatao,” bahagi ni Sec. Judy Taguiwalo, na dumaan pa sa naturang paggawad upang batiin at pasalamatan ang mga natatanging pamilya.

“Nakita ko pa lamang po ang mga pamilyang nagsusumikap sa kabila ng kahirapan, tulad ninyo, ay ‘yun na mismo ang inspirasyon,” wika naman ni Asec. Malou Turalbe na nakibahagi rin sa pagdiriwang.

Ang Pamilya Bulso ay nakakuha ng plake ng pagkilala at premyong P10,000.00, bukod pa sa P20,000.00 na napanalunan nila sa palighasang pangrehiyon.

Ayon kay Liliosa Bulso o Nanay Lota, ang ilaw ng tahanan, ang ibang bahagi ng premyo ay gagamitin nila upang tumulong sa pagpapatayo ng bagong simbahan sa kanilang lugar at ang iba naman ay idadagdag nila sa kanilang puhunan sa negosyo at pampaaral ng kanilang mga anak.### (Andyleen C. Feje)

“Nung hindi pa kami kabilang sa Pantawid, d’un kasi pumapasok ang pagkamakasarili; yung ideya ko, ideya ko lang. Pero nung magkaroon na po ng Pantawid, nando’n na po yung FDS (Family Development Session)kung saan namin natutunan ang socialization – kung pa’no makisalamuha, kung pa’no tumulong, at kung pa’no ibahagi yung mga ideya na natutunan mo sa iba.” – Liliosa Bulso of Bulso family, 2016 Regional Winner, Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya.

“Everybody deserves a second chance,” Director Gemma B. Gabuya of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III stressed in today’s celebration of the 37th anniversary of the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) in Magalang, Pampanga.

In addressing the 101 residents of the center, Gabuya said, “Our goal is for you to go home and join your families and become productive members of the society. Equipped with the knowledge and skills you acquired here, you are ready to face your respective families and communities. You can still be models of the youth.”

Our government has the accountability to ensure that all children enjoy their rights. As residents, you have the second chance to fulfill your dreams, to become good parents and future leaders of our country, Gabuya stressed.

She also urged the residents to continue their involvement in the regular activities within the center to be more productive and progressive individuals as soon as they are discharged and reintegrated to their respective families and communities. She stressed that they should learn the essence of imbibing positive values to become better citizens.

Gabuya added that the DSWD and the local social welfare and development offices (LSWDOs) will continue to advocate for the rights of children.

Mayor Ma. Lourdes Pecson of Magalang, the event’s guest speaker stressed that the youth has an important role in nation building. With the event’s theme “Kabataan, Pamantayan sa Pag-unlad ng Bayan,” Mayor Pecson posed a challenge to the residents, “Maipapangako ba ninyong susunod sa batas at maging mabuting mamamayan paglabas ninyo dito sa RRCY?”

She also lauded the RRCY staff for their contribution in the development and transformation of the residents under their care. “I support your advocacy of fulfilling your mandate of providing social protection for the children in conflict with the law (CICL),” she said.

In addressing the community, she said, “Nasa kamay ninyo ang pag-ahon ng mga batang nakalabag sa batas”.

Meanwhile, Jomer Elamparo, former RRCY resident who stayed at the center for more than four years, shared how life at the center has transformed him. He is now a graduate of Hotel and Restaurant Management and does a part-time job in one of the restaurants in Magalang, Pampanga.

Jomer recalled that he was only a second year high school student when he came to RRCY. He enrolled in Alternative Learning of the Department of Education (DepED) and accelerated to college. “Ang mga pagsubok di naging hadlang sa pag-abot ko ng aking pangarap. Proud ako na sabihing galing ako sa RRCY dahil dito ako nahubog. Di lahat ng may kaso ay masama,” Jomer said.

We are the author of our fate, he added. Ginagabayan tayo ng Dios sa pamamagitan ng mga staff sa landas ng pagbabago ngunit ang pagbabago ay dapat magsimula sa atin.

He also encouraged the RRCY residents to forget the past and live for today. “tulad ko, may pagkakataon pa kayong ituwid ang mga nagawa ninyo at sakaling paglabas ninyo ay maaari kayong maging modelo ng ibang kabataan,” he said.

RRCY is the regional facility of the DSWD Field Office III for children in conflict with the law (CICL). Manned by trained and competent workers, RRCY provides 24 hours rehabilitation services by trained interdisciplinary staff headed by Vilma Serrano, head social worker. ### (Evelyn T. Manalo)

With the aim to reduce the level of corruption vulnerabilities in bidding and procurement matters, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office III conducted its first Kapihan with 28 suppliers and service providers. The workshop was held at Orotel, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, August 25.

According to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairperson Armont Pecina, “It’s time for the government to get rid of its bad reputation in procurement.” General Administration and Support Services Division (GASSD) Chief Maribel Blanco added, “[We also do this] to ensure that the integrity is practiced in the public sector and to improve the public’s trust and confidence in the government.”

Assistant Regional Director for Administration Irene C Crespo attended the event and gave welcome remarks to the participants. In her message, she stressed the positive attributes of the procurement process in the DSWD, saying it is “speedy, accurate, and transparent.”

Despite the technicalities of the matters discussed in the workshop, it was filled with light, chatty vibe, as if the participants and facilitators were just having a extended coffee break, remaining true to the term Kapihan.
In the Kapihan proper, participants wrote their comments and suggestions on their transactions with the DSWD. A participant wrote, “Walang corrupt sa DSWD. (There’s no corruption in the DSWD)” Another wrote, “Isa sa tatlong ahensiyang pinagkakatiwalaan kong katransaksyon. (One of the three government agencies I trust during transactions.)” Meanwhile, some offered their suggestion to fast-track the transaction process with the DSWD. Another participant raised his issue on delayed payment.

The workshop was patterned after world café, a participative and inclusive type of workshop set-up. Here, all participants were grouped according to the type of merchandise and service they provide. During the breakout session, participants discussed technical matters related to procurement.

Facilitated by GASSD and hosted by Regional Information Officer Evelyn Manalo, the forum ended with lunch served by Orotel, San Fernando. ### (Ma. Denielle M. Lomboy)
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Some 175,705 day care children in Central Luzon has started to benefit from the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) of the government.

Ma. Elena Carreon, Senior Dietary Nutritionist and SFP focal person of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III (DSWD FO III) said that the government has allotted P319,255,985.00 for the program implementation in 3,849 day care centers in 116 municipalities and 14 cities of Central Luzon.

To date, DSWD FO III has already transferred the amount of P50,627,614.00 to 24 municipalities of Region 3.

Just recently, the Field Office transferred a check worth P2,936,128.00 to Mayor Celestino Marquez for the feeding program of 1,606 day care children of Pandi, Bulacan.

The program, which is jointly implemented by the DSWD and the local government units (LGUs), is in support of the pro-poor program of the government. The feeding cycle has a duration of six (6) months or 120 feeding days.

The Supplementary Feeding program is the provision of food in addition to the regular meals, to target children as part of the DSWD’s contribution to the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program of the government. The food supplementation will be in a form of meals to be served during meal time to children five (5) days a week.

Children will be weighed at the start of the feeding and three months thereafter and after the completion of 120 feeding days to determine improvement and sustenance in their nutritional status, Carreon said. ### (Evelyn T. Manalo)

Despite successive heavy rains, the Kapit-Bisig Laban saKahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community-Driven Development Program (KC-NCDDP) went full throttle last August 23-26, conducting two simultaneous activities to promote community empowerment.

A Project Development Workshop (PDW)was conducted with the community volunteers in Talugtug, Nueva Ecija, while a Community-Driven Development Workshop with the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) officials of General Mamerto Natividad took place in Azalea, Baguio City.

In Baguio City, 43 participants were divided in a breakout session according to their respective positions. Here, the BLGU officials were taught strategies on how to efficiently manage the program. The participants also voiced out their sentiments regarding the project implementation. On the succeeding days of the workshop, all the participants were gathered as they listened to lectures from the resource speakers. As the four-day workshop ended, the facilitators made sure that all of the participants’ queries were properly addressed.

Meanwhile in Talugtug, the community volunteers had a technical learning workshop session wherein they were taught to properly fill-out and process official documents for the sub-projects. After the activity, the participants felt empowered and more knowledgeable in technical processes.

Overall, the rainy week had been productive for the KC-NCDDP Region 3. This goes to show that rain or shine, the program continuously embodies the ideals of the Department of Social Welfare and Services –to provide the needed social empowerment services to the communities. ### (Ma. Denielle M. Lomboy)