Mercoria Merino celebrated her 68th birthday last December 12, 2018 so she decided to buy spaghetti after she received her stipend from the Social Pension Program on the same day.

Amidst the commercialization of the Yuletide event, an elderly from the countryside reminds everyone of this annual affair’s essence.

Mercoria Merino who grew up in Daraga town only finished primary education because of poverty. They can’t even bring their parents to the hospital. Their mother’s condition was not properly diagnosed and she believed that her mother died of pneumonia.

Even now, she considers her own family as indigent because of limited revenue from farming. Their income descended because her husband died who mainly worked for them.

She has six sons and only one of them lives with her because the rest have their own families. Two of her grandchildren also live with her.

Despite these things, Mercoria serves her community without reluctance.
She devotes her time as a religion volunteer teacher for the elementary children in their village. She was also elected as the president of the senior citizen’s organization at Brgy. San Ramon, her residence.

Mercoria just turned 68 years old last December 12. After she got the stipend of P1,500 from the DSWD Social Pension Program payout on the same day, she hurried to the grocery and bought ingredients for spaghetti as her treat for her family. She also bought some supplies before heading home.

“Bumili ako ng spaghetti para daw pampahaba ng buhay (I bought spaghetti as a symbol for long life),” she explained.

As a Social Pension beneficiary, she also advised her fellow senior citizens to keep the money for the upcoming Christmas celebration.

“Mahalaga na magkakasama ang pamilya sa Pasko na may pinagsasaluhan kaya sana, gabayan din ng mga anak ang kanilang magulang kung paano gagastusin ang makukuhang [Social] Pension ngayong buwan (Coming together with a simple feast as a family every Christmas is important, so I hope that the elderly will also be guided by their families on how they will spend the [Social] Pension which is available this month),” Mercoria said.

The elderly also encouraged those senior citizens to get their IDs from the local social welfare and development offices (LSWDOs) to enjoy various benefits and discounts from availing goods and services.

She also said that children living with their elderly parents should relentlessly manifest support, love and care because they are God-given gifts to each another.

Amidst poverty, one can choose to be grateful of the blessing received from the family. The elderly never demands but reciprocating their sacrifices is sufficient to make them feel loved and important during this crucial stage.

Family’s love is

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS) trains Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Groups in 39 Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Bicol Region.

The training aims to enhance the capacity of O&M groups in performing their roles in the operations of the community projects built through the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS in a sustained manner and effectively provide services to the community.

As of November 28, 2018, the program has completed a total of 2,672 community projects in Bicol Region. The operations and maintenance are both handled by O&M groups either organized into associations or committees of the LGUs.

“This capability-building activity will not only enrich the knowledge and skills of the O & M groups in the planning development but also enhance the capacity of these committees in mobilizing and managing their resources for their community projects,” Director Arnel Garcia said.

The municipalities that will undergo training are the following:

The municipalities were identified based on the Sustainability Evaluation Test (SET) results, the capacity of O&M groups and income generating projects.

The training with a total budget of Php 13,422,065.00 will tackle seven (7) sessions such as Diagnosing Functionality of O&M group, Revisiting Committee Purpose and Work Plan, Membership Development, Technical Aspect for O&M, Resource Mobilization and Management, Monitoring and O&M Planning.

On the other hand, DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS added eight (8) more municipalities for the Strengthening Community Participation in Local Development Training also known as Makilahok.

“We included eight (8) LGUs in addition to the 15 LGUs to gain more support on the institutionalization of Community-Driven Development (CDD) at the barangay development planning and budgeting process,” Dir. Garcia explained.

The additional municipalities were LGU Sta. Elena in Camarines Norte, LGUs Bato, Baao, Bula, Calabanga in Camarines Sur, LGUs Barcelona, Sta. Magadalena and Prieto Diaz in Sorsogon.

The original LGUs were Manito and Jovellar in Albay, Jose Panganiban and San Vicente in Camarines Norte, Cabusao, Minalabac, Gainza, Canaman and Ocampo in Camarines Sur, Baras and Gigmoto of Catanduanes, Mobo and Palanas in Masbate and Irosin and Gubat in Sorsogon.

Makilahok started from October 2018 while the O&M Training will be conducted on the first week of December. Both training initiatives will end on December 15, 2018.

/29November2018rams/

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DSWD Dir. Arnel Garcia emphasized that the family can break the cycle of violence by expressing love. This is part of his message during the Men’s Summit yesterday at La Edley Event Place, Legazpi City.

Legazpi City—Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Dir. Arnel Garcia shared an inspirational message during the Men’s Summit at La Edley Event Place yesterday (November 28) in connection with the 18-Day Campaign to end violence against women.

He addressed the male participants by saying: “You breed violence at home. Sasabihin mo na sinasaktan mo ang iyong anak dahil mahal mo sila and by the time na magkapamilya sila, gagawin din nila ito dahil sa kanilang karanasan. Ngunit mga tatay, subukan niyong yakapin ang inyong mga anak at sabihin: ayaw kitang saktan at hindi na kita muling sasaktan dahil mahal kita (You say that you hurt your child because you love them and by the time they are married, they will do the same because of their past experience. But to the fathers, try to embrace your children and say: I do not want to hurt you and I’ll never hurt again because I love you).”

“You break the cycle of violence,” Dir. Garcia added.

The said summit serves as a platform to promote men’s significant role to free families and communities from violence and tackle relevant issues concerning men.

The male participants came from various government offices and men’s organizations namely, Pag Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP), Simon of Cyrene, Philippine National Police (PNP), Albay Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Department of Justice (DOJ), DSWD and Solo Fathers Leaders of Daraga and Legazpi City.

The following topics were discussed: Understanding Violence Against Women, Men’s Involvement in Reproductive Health Law, Men’s Mental Health, Men in the Prevention of HIV-AIDS and Building Lasting Relationships with your Partner.

The DSWD in collaboration with other government offices spearheaded the said summit.

The Men’s Summit is one of the activities in line with the 8-Day Campaign to end violence against women.

Proclamation 1172 s. 2006 – Declaring 25 November to 12 December as the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) and Republic Act 10398 (2013) – Declaring November 25 of Every Year as National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children In Support of the Worldwide Campaign to End VAW support the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) which is observed annually from November 25 to December 12 to raise awareness among all stakeholders that violence against women (VAW) as a public issue of national concern.

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Leona Ornido, a community volunteer helps her community by donating her real property to build the evacuation center community project.

“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good,” Elizabeth Edwards, a best-selling author said.

Through the years, Bicol Region has been struck by disasters such as typhoons, heavy rains or volcanic eruption. For the community of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Ocampo, Camarines Sur, it is important for them to strengthen their preparedness in times of disasters considering the distance of their community from the town main district.

Located at the lower slopes of Mt. Isarog, Barangay Sta. Cruz is a 45-minute motorcycle ride from the town proper. Since the community continues to grow with over 59 households situated in Zone 6 of the barangay, there is a plight on securing safety of these people during disasters.

To ensure the wellbeing of the community, the people decided to build an evacuation center that will withstand a typhoon since most of the residents’ houses are made of light materials.

Through the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS), the barangay folks have built the infrastructure with their collective action yearning for the improvement of their community.

According to Leona Ornido, 64, community volunteer who helped built the evacuation enter, the building will also serve as a day care center so that the children won’t have to go to school at the town proper.

“Nagsisilbi din itong day care center kasi kawawa naman ng mga bata at ang kanilang mga magulang kailangan pa nila bumiyahe ng malayo lalong lalo na tuwing tag-ulan (The building also serves as day care center because we think it will be of great use for the children and their parents so that they won’t have to travel for a long distance especially during the rainy season),” Ornido explained.

Seeing the project as a great need to solve the problem, Ornido donated her land to build the evacuation center.

“Naisipan ko magdonate ng lupa upang makatulong ako sa kapwa ko kasi kung mayroong bagyo kahit saan tumatakbo ang mga tao para lang masiguro ang kaligtasan nila (I thought of donating my land to help my fellow folks so that they won’t have to go in different places just to ensure their safety),” the volunteer added.

WEATHER THE STORM

The project implementation was never easy especially when their efforts were put to test. According to Julie Paz, 48, Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) chairperson, they have experienced a lot of struggles.

“Ang naging problema namin ay ang panahon kasi yung kinalalagyan ng evacuation center ay malayo sa kalsada kaya tuwing tag-ulan hindi nai-dedeliver ang mga materyales kaya nagkaroon ng delay (One of the problems is the weather. Since the evacuation center is far from the main road, the contractor has difficulty in delivering the materials especially when it rains),” Paz expounded.

To solve the delay of delivery, the volunteers have planned different ways such as manual carrying of materials and scheduling of delivery in consideration of the weather condition.

“Syempre, tao na lang gagawa, magtulung-tulong upang maipasok ang mga materyales at magawa ang project (Of course, we will be ones to implement so we just helped each other to construct the project),” the BSPMC chairperson stated.

For Paz, the folks have seen many changes in their barangay after they have implemented their community projects.

“Yung unang project namin na pathway doon sa Zone 4, mas bumilis ang labas ng produkto o paninda habang sa Zone 6 naman panatag ang loob ng mga pamilya na mayroon silang tatakbuhan na ligtas sila (Through the pathway we have constructed, we deliver our products easily to the town proper. For Zone 6, the families are confident that they have a shelter to go to during calamities),” Paz said.

Paz also added that she saw the prosperity in their community after they have implemented the project.

“Sana hindi magsawang tumulong ang mga residentes kahit wala kaming natatanggap na anumang sweldo. Basta maisip lang namin na makatulong sa barangay at sa kapwa naming, okay na iyon (I hope the residents won’t stop from helping even though we don’t receive any salary. If we can help to the barangay and fellow residents, it’s okay for us),” the volunteer stated.

“Doble sipag, huwag magsawang tumulong (Double the efforts, don’t get tired of helping),” she advised.

The power to spring back from difficult situations has been part of our system but the capacity to mobilize a community for greater endeavor shows the true essence of humanity.   /23November2018/ramsertan

About DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS

Camarines Sur has implemented Kalahi-CIDSS in 35 municipalities with a total implementation grant of PhP 1,924,761,914.55 and local counterpart contribution of PhP 71,708,082.57 from barangay and municipal local government units (LGUs) to fund community-managed sub-projects.

DSWD had allocated Ocampo with PhP 60,928,835.00 with a counterpart from the LGU of Php 8,879,385.57.

The construction of evacuation center has a total project cost of PhP 1,863,500.73 which will benefit 59 households.

For more details about DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, follow this link:

http://ncddp.dswd.gov.ph/site/faqs

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One of the participants discussing about gender issues during the second and final day of the Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) for DSWD Field Office V employees at Sarung Banggui Resort, Sto. Domingo, Albay last November 7, 2018.

Legazpi City-The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V provided a Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) to its 98 internal staff in three batches this year.

The two-day crash course about gender aims to teach the DSWD employees to fully understand the importance of legal mandates and laws in creating a gender-fair community.

According to DSWD Dir. Arnel Garcia the training will also increase the attendees’ knowledge about gender sensitivity principles that they can apply in the workplace such as gender-sensitive language and remarks, provision of equal access to opportunities, informed decision-making for both sexes and gender-specific data collection and analysis.

“I encourage all DSWD employees to undergo this capacity building activity because we want to have a pool of gender advocates who will push for an enabling environment for all,” Dir. Garcia added.

After the training they are expected to come up with a Gender Action Plan based on the identified gender issues and provide their commitments to promote gender equality and create a gender-fair community.

The GST comprise of seven salient sessions about the following topics: Why We Advocate GAD?; Sex and Gender; Sex, Orientation, Gender identity and Expression; Institutions that Promote Gender Bias; Manifestations of Gender Bias; Gender Division of Labor; and Power.

The first group of DSWD employees who attended the GST was conducted last April 12-13, 2018, the second group was trained last April 24-25, 2018 while the recent training for the last batch was completed last November 6-7, 2018.

The total number of participants reached a total of 98 employees. Some participants are also members of the DSWD Region V Gender and Development (GAD) Technical Working Group (TWG) chaired by Assistant Regional Director for Operations Arwin Razo.

The GAD TWG is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the gender mainstreaming efforts through GAD planning and budgeting process.

Based on the Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta for Women, the government offices shall ensure that all members of the GAD TWG must undergo capacity building programs on gender and development which shall include but not be limited to: gender sensitivity training (GST), gender analysis, GAD planning and budgeting, and gender audit.

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The LGU officials of Ligao City received the 2016 Presidential Award as the Regional Winner for the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance handed over by DSWD Dir. Arnel Garcia and DSWD Asec. Anton Hernandez at La Edley, Legazpi City last November 9, 2018.

Legazpi City-The Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC)-Region V awarded the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG) to 96 of the total 114 local government units (LGUs) in the region last November 9, 2018 at La Edley, Legazpi City.

“The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) prioritizes the vulnerable sectors specially the children. The SCFLG is not only for recognition and gratitude; our aim is to showcase LGUs as models for replication in terms of promoting programs and services for the children,” Dir. Arnel B. Garcia, the RSCWC Chairperson said.

Moreover, Ligao City, Albay and Castilla, Sorsogon were both honored as the 2016 Regional Awardees qualifying for the Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities.

Special awards were also given to the following LGUs:

• Naga City-LGU with Remarkable Investment for Children for 2016 (independent city category), Most Innovative LGU on Children’s Welfare Programs
• Canaman-First Place: LGU with Highest Investment for Children for 2016 (4th-6th income class category)
• Sagnay-Second Place: LGU with Highest Investment for Children for 2016 (4th-6th income class category)
• Daet-First Place: LGU with Highest Investment for Children for 2016 (1st-3rd income class category)
• Labo-Second Place: LGU with Highest Investment for Children for 2016 (1st-3rd income class category)
• Legazpi City-First Place: LGU with Highest Investment for Children for 2016 (component City category)
• Ligao City-Second Place: LGU with Highest Investment for Children for 2016 (component city category), Regional Winner for three consecutive years (2015-2017) as regional winner under Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities

The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) launched the Child-Friendly Philippines framework last 2014 that included the SCFLG which is a recognition system for LGUs that deliver positive results for children’s through planning, budgeting, legislation and delivery of services.

The SCFLG is complemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular of 2014-80 endorsing the Child Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) to all Provincial Governors, City and Municipal Mayors, the ARMM Regional Governor, DILG Regional Directors, and other concerned parties.

Likewise, the DSWD and the Department of Education (DepEd) are member of the CFLG Audit Team.

LGUs that will pass the CFLGA will be conferred the Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance by the CWC. The LGUs shall be audited based on the following twelve (12) criteria:

1. Percentage reduction in the deaths among children below five years old or under-five mortality rate.

2. Percentage reduction in the number of children under-six with below normal weight.

3. Percentage increase in the number of 3-4 year-old children attending center-based day care services.

4. Completion rate for elementary schooling.

5. Absence of child labor or percentage reduction in child labor cases.

6. Percentage reduction in the number of children victims of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation (all forms, including physical violence, sexual abuse and exploitation, and trafficking in persons).

7. Safety measures for children in the community and schools.

8. Extent of mainstreaming of children’s rights to survival, development, protection and participation in the core development agenda of LGUs (this includes LCPC functionality and child participation).

9. An ordinance establishing Barangay Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Desks.

10. Philhealth accreditation in its main health facility or rural health unit for the Maternal Care Services and Primary Care.

11. A Local School Board (LSB) Plan that is aligned with the School Improvement Plan (SIP).

12. Completed at least 70% of its LSB Plan.

Conferees of the SCFLG are shortlisted and validated for the Presidential Award for Child Friendly Municipalities and Cities.

Furthermore, Ms. Conifer Codia, the focal person of the CFLG from the DILG Region V, said that the all cities and municipalities in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Norte received the Seal of CFLG. Furthermore, the town of Libon will vie for the Presidential Award next year.

Codia was also honored by Dir. Garcia during the event for her invaluable efforts in the successful activity.(with reports from cwc.gov.ph)

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Legazpi City– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region V started to distribute cash subsidy to the poor households identified by the Listahanan as recipients of the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program (UCT) in all local government units (LGUs) in Bicol Region last week.

According to DSWD Regional Director Arnel Garcia, the 102,853 poor households will be receiving cash aid amounting to PhP 2,400.00.

Said cash subsidy is embodied in the Republic Act 10963 or Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law which mandates the government to provide mitigating program to protect the poor and vulnerable on the rising prices of commodities.

The program provides one-time unconditional cash grant of 2,400 equivalent to 200 per month this year and will increase to 3,600 or 300 per month in the succeeding two years (2019-2020).

As stipulated in the law, qualified groups of beneficiaries of the UCT include the Pantawid Pamilya households, indigent senior citizens of the Social Pension program and the poor households identified by Listahanan.

“Earlier this year, the DSWD Bicol has distributed the UCT grant to 374,152 household beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya and 195,107 indigent senior citizens of the Social Pension Program, and now for the Listahanan,” said Garcia.

Dir. Garcia advised the beneficiaries to submit one (1) photocopy of valid government-issued ID.

Authorized representatives are required to bring documents to establish their relationships (e.g. marriage and/or birth certificates) together with the authorization letter issued by the agency.

The payouts are being coordinated with the Local Government Units
(LGUs) and to the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP).

LGUs are responsible to disseminate payout schedule to the beneficiaries thru its barangay officials, provision of venue and other logistics during the payout while the Landbank of the Philippines is responsible for the distribution of cash grants to the beneficiaries.

Formerly known as the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), Listahanan is an information management system that identifies WHO and WHERE the poor are in the country. It serves as the baseline for the identification of potential beneficiaries of the social protection programs.

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS) will conduct Makilahok in 15 Local Government Units (LGUs) in Bicol Region to further reinforce the community participation in local development.

Makilahok or Strengthening Community Participation in Local Development is a project to be implemented under DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with support from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

“DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS has demonstrated community participation, accountability and transparency. Makilahok is necessary in adopting CDD at the barangay development planning and budgeting process,” Regional Director Arnel Garcia said.

The pilot municipalities that will undergo Makilahok are Manito and Jovellar in Albay, Jose Panganiban and San Vicente in Camarines Norte, Cabusao, Minalabac, Gainza, Canaman and Ocampo in Camarines Sur, Baras and Gigmoto of Catanduanes, Mobo and Palanas in Masbate and Irosin and Gubat in Sorsogon.

These municipalities were identified based on their implementation performance of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, completion of community projects and LGU’s readiness to undergo capacity training for all barangays.

The training initiative with a total budget of Php 7,521,550.00 will cover four (4) areas focusing on Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA), Community Finance, Community Procurement following the Philippine financial and procurement procedures (RA 9184) and Community Monitoring.

Each participating barangay is expected to produce their Barangay Development Plan (BDP) with CDD activities, techniques and other implementation arrangements that can be adopted in barangay development planning and budgeting process.

“This initiative will significantly help in heightening our support towards community empowerment and participation through the institutionalization of CDD in the local development process,” he added. /ramsertan10182018/

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