The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol has conducted Katutubo Caravan cum “Kaya ko ang Pagbabago Campaign” for indigenous people last November 28 in Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon.

The activity aimed at providing the Katutubo beneficiaries (Agta Tabangnon tribe) in the said municipality with knowledge and information on proper nutrition, good hygiene and importance of maintaining good health through regular medical check-up. It also aims to increase the awareness of the Katutubo’s on their rights, based on the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act or IPRA Law.

According to Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia, various government and private agencies has converge together to extend basic social services to Indigenous People (IP) beneficiaries. Also, he stresses that the Department will continuously commit to improve the well-being of the poor. While, as a counterpart, the beneficiaries should also help themselves through complying with the set of conditions of the program and instill the values and importance of health and education for their own good.

About 400 katutubo beneficiaries participated in the activity coming from the 13 IP communities in Prieto Diaz.

The one-day activity also highlighted the newest “Kaya ko ang Pagbabago” campaign of the Program which brings together the commitment of the academe, partner government agencies, media, non-government/ civil society organizations and beneficiaries to continuously support the Program especially, the expansion of the educational grant from the present maximum age of 14 to 18 years old.

Municipal Mayor Benito L. Doma, thank all the government and private agencies who participated and extended their services. “Sa gabos, salamat nin marhay sa tabang nindo sa satuyang mga katutubo, makaka-asa po kamo sa sakuyang lubos na pagsuporta. Asin, hinahagad ko man po ang pagkasararo nin gabos tanganing durudiretso maitaas ta ang antas nin pagkabuhay kan satuyang mga katutubo asin kan gabos na nangangaipo, [To all, thank you very much for the provision of services to our Katutubo’s. Expect my commitment and support. Also, I asked the unity of everyone to continuously elevate the living condition of our IPs and people in need],” he said.

The government agencies that participated and extended their services are: Local Government Unit of Prieto Diaz, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Army, Department of Education (DepEd), National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Philhealth, National Nutrition Council (NNC), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Good Neighbors Inc, Local Civil Registrar (LCR)

Orientation on IPRA laws, proper hygiene and nutrition, and children’s right where conducted by NCIP, NNC and Good Neighbors Inc., respectively.

For medical consultation, the DOH, Philippine Army, NCIP, and the local government of Prieto Diaz through Municipal Health Office sent five doctors, three dermatologists and nurses to conduct medical check-up and provide medicines.

Free birth registration was done by the office of LCR while alternative learning system registration and enrollment was conducted by DepEd.

In addition, free haircut and massage was also conducted by the Philippine Army; the DA and DENR distributed fruit bearing trees/seedlings as a give-away to the IPs.

Ronnel Dellema, chieftain of Barangay San Rafael and a beneficiary of the program was grateful for having benefited during the caravan. Since their barangay is one the farthest barangay in town, services are very limited and felt that they are left behind, but with the Pantawid Program, a ray of light brings hope to the residents and improve their lives.

“Ako po sarong para-tanom, may walong aki, tapos diit lang ang kinikita. Dai ko masusteneran ang mga aki ko pero sa assistensya nin Pantawid, napa-eskwela ko ang mga aki ko. Asin, nagbago su kaisipan ko na dapat pa-eskwelahon nguna ang mga aki bago patrabahon o kaya piriton sinda magtrabaho.  [I am a farmer, with eight children and with a very tight income. I cannot sustain the living of my children but with the cash assistance of the government, I was able to send my children in school. My belief and priorities also changes, where I was able to learn the importance of education by sending my children in school before engaging them or force them to work],”

The Katutubo Caravan is being implemented every year under DSWD in partnership with the local government unit and other government agencies.

Said Caravan was initially conducted in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte then, in Tiwi, Albay and Buhi Camarines Sur.

In Bicol, a total of 4,758 IPs benefitted under Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and 493 of which come from Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon.

Pantawid Pamilya is a conditional cash transfer program of the Philippine government which invests in human capital through health and education by providing cash grants to extremely poor households with children ages 0 – 18 years old.***G.A.N.L. Info. Officer