Legazpi City- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol clarified on Friday that the agency is not issuing certification for inclusion as beneficiaries of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“The Listahanan database has already been shared to CHED thru the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) and its up to them to establish their own verification mechanism based on their eligibility criteria,” DSWD Regional Director Arnel Garcia said.

Listahanan is an information management system that aims to establish a database of poor households that serve as a basis in prioritizing the poor as beneficiaries of social protection programs.
“DSWDs mandate is to share Listahanan’s list of poor households who will be prioritized for the implementation of programs and services for the poor thus does not implement any program”, Garcia added.

Meanwhile, the agency clarified that being a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary will not automatically entitle them of TES.
“The basis of Pantawid Pamilya came from the Listahanan 1 conducted in 2009-2010 while for the TES was derived from the Listahanan 2 result from the 2015 household assessment,” Garcia explained.

He said that for TES concerns, the public may directly inquire to the CHED’s office located at CHEDRO Building, EM’s Barrio South,Brgy. 2, Legaspi City or to the school’s TES focal person.
Under the Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, the TES offers qualified students to pursue a college education without paying tuition fees and other school fees.

Under the program, students’ beneficiaries will get an amount of Php 40,00060,000 per year to cover for tuition fees, books, transportation, supplies, room & board, and other school expenses.

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office V Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will be conducting a learning exchange visit for partner government agencies and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on June 19-21, 2019.

The activity aims to provide a wider, deeper understanding and better appreciation of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. It also aims to clarify issues about the program and develop recommendations in enhancing the policies of 4Ps in the Region.

According to Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia, the activity will also serve as a venue for the beneficiaries to express their thoughts, experiences on how they are able to benefit from the services provided to them, how their living improved through the convergence efforts of the programs and services both internal and external partners.

A total of 50 participants from CSOs and government agencies including DSWD 4Ps staff will attend the said activity.

The learning exchange will be a two-day visit in Ligao City in the barangays of Tuburan, Cabarian, Santa Cruz, Catburawan and Maonon.

Regional Program Coordinator, Priscilla C. Saladaga said the partners will visit rural health stations and secondary schools of the said barangays.

Also, the partners will interview 4Ps beneficiaries, local officials, and government partners who directly provide assistance to 4Ps beneficiaries.

She added that Ligao City was identified due to its notable active performance along the implementation of programs of DSWD and received the highest number of social services last 2018.***GANLindio

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Ave Ibañez explains the community’s plan for the operation and maintenance of their evacuation center project to the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS staff.

“Para sa akin ang DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) ay isang paru-paro na naguumpisa siya bilang uod pero habang tumatagal ang proseso dito makikita yung ganda niya hanggang sa paglipad niya (For me, DSWD is like a butterfly that started as caterpillar but as the process goes we can see the beauty until it flies).”

This is what Ave Ibañez, 35, a mother of three (3) children of Barangay Balocawe, Dimasalang, Masbate said when comparing DSWD to a butterfly on the beauty of the social welfare programs.

Usually, people misinterpret poverty equals laziness but it’s not the case. This is the lack of opportunities and connections that poor people cannot grasp.

Seeing this as a challenge to resolve, the national government through the DSWD implements the three (3) Promotive Programs namely, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) focusing on the upliftment of the well-being of poor families.

Pantawid Pamilya is a conditional cash transfer program that invests in the health and education of poor households while the Kalahi-CIDSS uses the Community-Driven Development (CDD), an approach that helps communities to achieve improved access to services and to participate in more inclusive local planning, budgeting and implementation.

Moreover, the SLP is capacity building program that provides access to opportunities that increase the productivity of the livelihood assets of poor, vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Many people have benefitted from these programs and one of them is Ave Ibañez.

Ave described Barangay Balocawe as a peaceful community with people helping each other to transcend from the abyss of poverty.

She also recounted that Barangay Balocawe before was not yet reached by the government and its programs and services.

“Noon, mahirap ang Balocawe pero sa ngayon, medyo nakikita ko na may kaunlaran na (Before, Balocawe is poverty-stricken but as of now, I can see developments here),” she explained.

She also furthered that when Pantawid Pamilya entered their community, other programs followed including the non-government organizations (NGOs).

PANTAWID PAMILYA

As of May 30, 2019, there are 195 beneficiaries of the program Pantawid Pamilya in which 163 are females while 32 are males.

According to Ave who is also a parent leader of Pantawid Pamilya, other than the cash grant being received by beneficiaries, the Family Development Session (FDS) implemented by Pantawid Pamilya also molded the beneficiaries into good parents and citizens.

A parent leader of 4Ps serves as a link of the program and beneficiaries and assists in the updating and monitoring fellow recipients.

“Ang tulong hindi lang yung cash grant pati rin yung Family Development Session ng 4Ps kasi mino-mold kaming mga beneficiaries bilang isang magulang, kung paano ka huwamak ng pera at maging involved sa komunidad (Other than the cash grant, the Family Development Session of 4Ps is also a great help because it molds us beneficiaries as parents, budget our finances and how to be more involved in the community),” she said.

“Pinakanapulot ko kung paano i-develop ang sarili ko, tingnan ang future ng aking pamilya (I learned self-development and plan the future of my family),” she continued.

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD

In line with this, the community has also observed great improvements in the livelihood aspect. The sources of livelihood are coconut production, farming and fishing.

To create more employment opportunities in the barangay, SLP assisted in the implementation of communal piggery cum hog fattening benefitting 38 participants with project cost of Php570,000.00 and Sikap Community Store benefitting 14 participants with a project cost of 210,000.00

“Malaki ang tulong ng SLP katulad ng community store kasi sa halip na itatakbo pa namin sa bayan dito na mismo sa barangay kami nakakabili ng aming mga pangangailangan (SLP helped a lot especially the community store. Instead of buying goods at downtown Dimasalang, our basic needs are already made available in the barangay,” Ave expressed.

Operating a community store and hog fattening also built rapport among the group particularly on using the capital fund.

“Mas nagiging kilala yung mga kahinaan ng bawat isa kaya tulong-tulong. Ano man ang kalakasan ng isa, pupunan niya kung anuman ang kahinaan ng iba (Since people know each other’s weaknesses, they help each other. Whatever abilities the person may have, he or she will supplement the shortcomings of others),” she stated.

KAPIT-BISIG LABAN SA KAHIRAPAN

The community also had trouble in finding a safe place to stay in times of disasters particularly during the typhoon Yolanda.

Ave who serves as community volunteer recounted that the community saw this a top need to resolve so they have decided the construction of evacuation center under DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS.

The construction of the project amounting to Php2,259,490.00 also functions as a day care center, training center and venue during the FDS.

According to Ave, she will never forget what the staff of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS said to her about community volunteerism.

“Sa DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, hindi mo mapapansin ang pagod mo bilang isang volunteer kundi tingnan mo yung ibinigay sayo na training yung kaalaman na hindi na mananakaw sayo kailanman (In DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, you wouldn’t care the weariness as a volunteer but consider the training provided as an opportunity for knowledge won’t be stolen from you),” she stated.

To date, Ave is also part of the operation and maintenance of the community project in which the barangay allocated Php10,000.00 for the sustainability of the evacuation center.

It is not an easy task for Ave as a parent leader, SLP member and community volunteer of the three (3) programs, despite the benefits she is also part of uplifting the lives of her community from poverty.

Ave also thanked the government on creating programs that will benefit the communities.

“Lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa pamahalaan kasi tiningnan nila yung kakulangan ng komunidad hindi sila nagdalawang isip na maiangat at maimulat ang tao sa kahirapan. Hindi habambuhay na mahirap (I am gratefully thankful to the government because they saw what the community needs and never doubted on uplifting and awakening people from poverty. Being poor is not for a lifetime),” she added.

Not only DSWD can be a butterfly but also a person’s life. Undergoing metamorphosis is the best process to learn, experience and fulfill our human existence. /ramsertan/

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) participants officially opened their rice retailing business at Bulan, Sorsogon last June 06, 2019.

Present during the launching activity were representatives from Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU), Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) and DSWD employees.

“SLP reaches out to the vulnerable sectors of the society primarily focusing on food security through enterprise development.” DSWD Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia, CESO II said.

The project was under Microenterprise Development-Seed Capital Fund (MD-SCF) of SLP. A total of Php 622, 750.00 was allocated for the two Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) projects in Bulan town.

The Biyayang Bigasan Association and Managa-Naga (MNG) SLP Association with 25 members each ventured into the rice retailing business since their villages Purok Lapu-Lapu, Barangay Zone 2 and Brgy. Managa-Naga Bulan, Sorsogon have big population and rice is one of the basic commodities. The said associations decided to build their own rice business because of the forecasted demand especially the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) families who are receiving monthly rice subsidy of P600.

SLP is a community-based capacity building program that aims to improve the socioeconomic condition of the participants. It facilitates interventions that expand the livelihood asset based on the participants (human, social, physical, natural, and financial capital) so they may either have gainful employment or successfully manage a microenterprise.

MD Track focuses on starting, expanding or rehabilitating micro-enterprises, activities. This track includes entrepreneurship, technical – vocational and soft skills training.

Moreover, SCF is a capacity-building grant given to eligible SLP participants to finance the initial operations of their enterprise/s. It provides the participants with financial capital to be able to establish and manage their sustainable microenterprise/s, which should provide a stable source of income.

On the other hand, the BLGU/MLGU will secure to assist the participants in securing the registration, other pertinent licenses such as barangay, mayor’s and retailer permit necessary for their microenterprise to officially and legally recognize the operations of the microenterprise. And, through the guidance of the DSWD, SLPAs will also undergo accreditation as beneficiary Civil Society Organization.

As of the 2018 annual accomplishment in partnership with Bicol University, SLP Program served 8,427 households were 6,518 of them assisted through the Micro-Enterprise Development and the 1,909 households assisted through Employment Facilitation Track amounting to 59,313,917.66 pesos.

It can be noted that the monitored impact of the program is relatively positive especially on households earning from their own microenterprises. The same is true for SLP households who are gainfully employed after having been provided intervention under the employment facilitation track. #PRNPOJ061119

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Legazpi City—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol provided additional assistance to the local government units (LGUs) in the Albay province whose farmers have been affected by the dry spell brought by the El Niño.

DSWD Bicol distributed family food packs to the farmers in Pioduran, Guinobatan, Manito, Ligao City and Tabaco City who participated in DSWD’s Food-for-Work Program with a total cost of assistance of PhP1,191,762.40.

It was reported that the province of Albay was placed under the state of calamity last April 12, 2019.

Based on the June 11, 2019 DSWD disaster response report, a total of 16 cities/municipalities are affected in Albay.

On the other hand, DSWD Bicol has coordinated with Provincial Agriculture Offices and Municipal Agriculture Offices. It has also monitored disaster relief operations through its DSWD employees deployed at LGUs.

“We will provide relief augmentation to the other areas with dry spell in Bicol. As of now, we have PhP3 million standby funds and 23,274 family food packs in our regional warehouse,” Dir. Arnel Garcia said.

The local government units (LGUs) need to submit a project proposal and official list of El Niño-affected farmers to avail of the DSWD’s Food-for-Work. The DSWD field workers will facilitate the distribution of the relief goods after the proposed community work has been done by the target beneficiaries.

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Naga City -The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol held the fourth provincial media forum last June 7, 2019 at Naga Pilgrims Hotel to give updates about its accomplishments and respond to issues.

The DSWD also conducted the same activity in Legazpi City, Masbate City and Daet last April 29, May 23 and June 6, respectively.

Dir. Arnel Garcia who has been attending the fora to personally meet the press emphasized the media’s important duty as bearers of information to the people. “Magtulungan tayo dahil nakakarating ang boses ninyo sa mga malalayong lugar para ipaabot ang tamang impormasyon. Sana ay ipagpatuloy natin ang magandang samahan (Let us work together because your voice reaches distant places to send right information. I hope we will continue our good working relationship),” Dir. Garcia said.

On the other hand, one of the highlights in the latest media forum in Naga City was about the Listahanan household assessment to be conducted this second semester. Listahanan is the agency’s information management system that identifies who and where the poor are. It makes a comprehensive database of poor families which serves as a basis for identifying beneficiaries of social protection programs.

Mr. Joy Belen, Project Development Officer IV said that the agency targets to assess 1,143,846 households regionwide. Belen also encourage the media to participate in the household assessment as watchdogs of the department.

Also, DSWD 4Ps staff Arlene Fabellare explained the process how abused cases are referred or reported.

“Abused cases must be first referred to the local government units (LGUs) for proper intervention. The DSWD will intervene when LGUs need technical assistance or augmentation support”, Fabellare said.

Ms. Cathy Andes from Social Pension Program shared the salient features of the DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 04, Series of 2019 or the Omnibus Guidelines in the Implementation of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens. Andes said that the payout for the indigent senior citizens will now be released by the DSWD Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) every semester.

The Social Pension Program is the government’s assistance to poor senior citizens aging 60 years old and above who are frail, sick or with a disability, with no regular income or support from families and relatives, and without a pension from private or government institutions. Under the program, poor senior citizens are entitled to a monthly cash grant in the amount of Php 500 to supplement their daily subsistence, including their medical needs.

Furthermore, DSWD 4Ps staff Harry Jay Daet discussed the Grievance Redress System (GRS) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Department’s flagship program that invests in human capital. The GRS is a mechanism of the program aims to capture and resolve grievances effectively and in a transparent manner.

Meanwhile, Dhonabel Cultivo, 4Ps beneficiary shared her testimony being part of the program.

“Being part of the 4Ps brought significant change to our family. This drew closer in achieving our dreams”.

The media forum has been an annual event of the agency bridging DSWD officials closer to the media. The said activity will be conducted in the remaining provinces of Sorsogon and Catanduanes on June 18 and June 26, respectively.###

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To ensure that the children beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol will enroll this opening of classes, said program sets a massive campaign dubbed as “Bata Balik Eskwela” in all of its covered municipalities and cities.

The Bata Balik Eskwela (BBE) campaign aims to encourage the children to return to school and continue their education so that they can fully maximize the benefits provided by 4Ps. Also, it aims to teach and inculcate to the children the value of education.

According to Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia, CESO II the target participants of the campaign are the children who are facing difficulties in continuing their studies

Among the identified reasons for not attending school are: there are significant numbers who are working in various sectors of economy to augment family’s income; children who were engaged in early marriage and got pregnant at an early age and children who are very sickly.

According to Dir. Garcia, the challenges identified which these children are facing are also addresses by the BBE Campaign.

Included in the BBE campaign are the current activities of 4Ps such as Youth and Family Development Sessions that are designed to develop a positive mind-set among the youth and parents and distribution of information materials.

Also, various interventions such as case management are administered by the program implementers in order to help these children or the whole family addressed their problems and in turn be able to make them realize the importance of sending back their children to school.

Dir. Garcia added that under the BBE, children beneficiaries will be equipped with necessary life skills so that they will realize their full potentials and decrease deterrents to their development with the end goal of enabling them to contribute meaningfully to improving the condition of their families.

Under BBE, the Parents are also asked for their commitment along providing guidance to their children, support along finances in school and active participation along conduct of community and school activities such as brigada eskwela.

The BBE is in partnership with other government agencies such as Department of Education and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

At present a total of 9,940 4Ps children continue their education and about 19,000 children were provided with interventions through case management.***GANLindio-IO4Ps

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Legazpi City—Some of the programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol was cited by the latest report of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has contributed to Bicol’s fast economic growth of 8.9% last April 25, 2019 in a press briefing held in Legazpi City.

According to NEDA Regional Director Agnes Tolentino, DSWD Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) and Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA projects contributed to the fastest growth of the industry sector. She said that the industry sector recorded the fastest growth of 14.2 percent from 3.5 percent in 2017.

“In 2019, we expect that domestic demand will pick up as household consumption will likely improve with the Implementation of RA 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law that includes the implementation of the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT),” Dir. Espinas said.

Furthermore, Espinas inferred that improvement of household consumption will improve due to the increased cash receipts of income earners and real incomes of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries with lower personal income tax.

Both 4Ps and UCT are considered as social safety net programs of the DSWD to help eliminate poverty.

“The rest of the DSWS Bicol is happy with the progress we’re making to help the poor. The latest NEDA report affirms that our programs can fortify other government’s measures to uplift our people,” DSWD Dir. Arnel Garcia said.

In Bicol alone, there are 373,853 household beneficiaries under 4Ps in 2018. Under UCT, there 373,853 4Ps household beneficiaries, 195,107 Social Pension beneficiaries and 113,958 poor households (2018). The DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS completed 5,393 community-identified sub-projects from 2012 to present.

The DSWD Bicol was allocated a total budget of P 13.4 billion to implement its programs and services last 2018.

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