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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Seven (7) community volunteer organizations from Bicol out of 108 awardees across the Philippines were recognized during the 4^th Bayani Ka! Awards last October 4, 2018 at Golden Peak Hotel and Suites, Cebu City.

The Bayani Ka! Awards of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the highest recognition for volunteers who took initiative in improving their communities. All regional winners across the country were recognized as Community-Driven Development (CDD) champions.

The annual recognition also aims to create a pool of champions promoting the CDD strategy.

As of August 13, 2018, the program was able to train 577,833 community volunteers in the country and of which 75,613 are Bicolanos.

Usec. Malou T. Jarabe, officer-in-charge of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, said that the biggest gain of the program was to produce community volunteers.

“Sa aming inisyal nai-kwenta, umaabot sa Php 21.6 billion ang economic value na nai-produce ng ating community volunteers pero ito ay para lamang sa tatlong (3) araw na pagvovolunteer sa isang taon na may minimum amount na Php 260.00 (In our initial computation, the economic value produced by the community volunteers is Php 21.6 billion which is only for three (3) days of volunteering in one (1) year with a minimum amount of Php 260.00),” she said.

This shows that all volunteer groups have greatly contributed to the success of strengthening empowerment in the communities, improving the delivery of services, pursuing national development and poverty reduction.

“Itong Bayani Ka! Awards ay hindi sapat upang kayo [community volunteers] ay aming pasalamatan sapagkat malaki ang inyong kontribusyon hindi lamang sa DSWD pati rin sa buong bansa (This Bayani Ka! Awards is not enough to thank the community volunteers since these volunteers have countless contribution not only to DSWD but to our country),” Jarabe said.

Each CDD champion has received a plaque of recognition and development incentive worth Php2,000.00 which will be used for the group’s initiatives.

Here is the complete list of national awardees from Bicol Region:

Gender and Development category

Awardee: Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee

Address: Brgy. Maint, Bato, Camarines Sur

Environment Protection category

Awardee: Kabataan para sa Karunungan at Kalikasan

Address: Donsol, Sorsogon

Improved Local Governance category

Awardee: Barangay Local Government of Maalo

Address: Juban, Sorsogon

Indigenous Peoples’ Welfare category

Awardee: Agta-Tabangnon

Address: Brgy. San Rafael, Bulusan, Sorsogon

Promotion of Just Peace category

Awardee: Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee

Address: Brgy. Mainit, Bato, Camarines Sur

Person with Disability category

Awardee: Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee

Address: Brgy. Matacla, Goa, Camarines Sur

Elderly

Awardee: Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee

Address: Brgy. Poblacion, Mobo, Masbate

Youth

Awardee: Kabataan para sa Karunungan at Kalikasan

Address: Donsol, Sorsogon

Sustained Community Volunteer Group

Awardee: Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee

Address: Brgy. Sta. Lourdes, Barcelona, Sorsogon

/ramsertan10112018

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Age can endure the test of time but the physical features that comes with it can change.

Visually, Ulysis Lubiano is described as severely thin wearing a wrinkled and leathery face due to overexposure to sun and extra hollow cheeks with puffiness under the eyes.

His appearance might pose that he is old and weak but he is strong enough to carry diverse loads in life.

Originally from a remote village in Monreal, Masbate, Ulysis and his family moved to the agricultural and fishing town of Pilar in Sorsogon province after he brought Esperanza, his spouse, to Manila to get medical attention for Myoma in 2004.

Esperanza has hard stomach lumps and experiences vomiting as an effect of her current health condition. She also deals with asthma.

Because of old age, she can no longer undergo a major operation for her Myoma.

Just like his ill wife, Ulysis has also an eye disease called Glaucoma that can lead to vision loss if left untreated but he dreads to seek for cure.

On the other hand, Ulysis is grasping at straws for their daily sustenance.

Three out of his eight children are residing nearby, however, all of them have their own families who cannot regularly support the frail couple.

“Wara man makakatabang ta puros man nagatios (No one can help because they are also poor)” he said.

Ulysis and his wife are now confined within the wooden walls of a run-down stilt house found in the squalid part of the town for almost 14 years.

But the physical and mental acuity of the 84-year old Ulysis is quite impressive who can manage to carry about 25 kilos of used cardboard boxes.

Evidently, dirt had already accumulated underneath his nails with the frequent contact with trash. He walks on bare feet and its skin had already hardened and soiled.

He is unschooled that is why he resorted to garbage collection and brushes off the threat of sustaining injuries whenever he manually handles heavy loads.

He rises at four in the morning with a cup of coffee for breakfast and departs their small abode to recover garbage in their village.

The first meal he eats is lunch after a laborious work at dawn.

He can vividly recall the moment when he collapsed because of an empty stomach.

Ulysis was immediately rushed to the hospital after he lost his consciousness because of fatigue.

On the other hand, the recycled items are sold to his distant relative in exchange for a meager amount.

According to him, he takes home an estimated income of PhP2,400 monthly.

He allocates the budget for food and medicines but barely affords to purchase antibiotics for his wife because of its costly price of PhP1,200 apiece.

But his income varies so they incur debt from a neighbor’s store for them to eat.

His youngest daughter, Rosie, a solo parent of five, gives them a minimal aid from her income as laundress.

She is also a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Rosie said that the 4Ps grant support her three children to buy rice and augments to their education, thus, gives assistance to her parents if she has extra money.

“Ang bunso ko iyo nadadalaganan ko ta iyo ini ang arani samuya dae kami pipabayaan kung wara kami (We can turn to our youngest child if we don’t have money because she is reliable and she only lives near us),” Ulysis said.

Moreover, the employer of Ulysis gave him three carts as a form of help, however, these carts were damaged that led him to the manual handling of the trash again.

Both Ulysis and Esperanza became recipients of the monthly stipend of PhP500 each for indigent senior citizens under the Social Pension Program implemented by the DSWD. Ulysis was enrolled in 2016 while his wife got in last year. To date, there are 195,107 Social Pension beneficiaries in Bicol while 33, 571 of which are in Sorsogon.

“Sa pension namun, ang sobra sa bulong; nakakaipon man kami; nakakabakal kami, sa diit-diit, makakabakal man ako sarong orig. Dakula baga ang tabang arog kaan sa origan (We buy medicines if we have excess from our pension. We also save the money and use it to buy a pig. The piggery is a huge healp),”

From 2016 to present, the couple bought four pigs from the grant they received from the government. The estimated profit from each pig is Php 5,000 to PhP7,000.

Back then, Ulysis prioritized his wife’s health so he decided to sell their livestock to cover the hospital bills.

At present, he plans to buy another hog to raise.

“Dae kami nahahalean ning orig para sa emergency (We cannot miss to take care of a pig because of we can rely on this in case of emergencies),” Ulysis explained.

Ulysis is weak but needs to work for his sick wife. He has Glaucoma while his wife has asthma and Myoma. Medicines and hospitalization for his wife are expensive. They cannot even afford to repair their dilapidated house.

But in the midst of this plight, Ulysis remains steadfast for his wife and children.

He wants to acquire another female swine and repair their dilapidated house.

“Sagkod su mga aki ko pag nagugbon iyan, makatabang man ako (I can even help my children if the pig farrows),” he added.

Ulysis’ will to conquer great challenges manifests bravery even at an old age who is supposed to receive utmost care and attention from their family.

But every person should remember that the elderly members of the society should be given the caregiving they deserve. However, it is the other way for Ulysis Lubiano who ignores his aged physique to salvage his family from the verge of hunger and poverty.

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Labo, Camarines Norte – Motorcycle ride going to Barangay Cabatuhan is the most fulfilling experience for the residents. Every time passengers pass by the Busig-on river, they can’t help but adore the majestic concrete spillway painted in yellow and black. Despite its magnificence, it wasn’t easy for the community to complete a project in 223 days especially they have a deadline to meet.

This infrastructure project is a product of collective action or Bayanihan of the community. At the other end of the spillway, names of the people involved in the sub-project were written on the big concrete marking shaped in letter K that stands for Kalahi.

From the town of Labo, one must travel for 56.5 kilometers to reach the barangay proper. Before, traveling to Cabatuhan has never been easy because one must have the confidence to cross the river and muddy rocky path.

According to Barangay Captain Dante Balog, Cabatuhan is one of the poorest barangays. Its main livelihood is farming.

He also specified the three main problems that Cabatuhan has experienced which are education, lack of livelihood and accessibility.

To solve the community problems, the residents saw the need of constructing a spillway that will serve as bridge for the services they may acquire at the town proper.

Shirley Yago, 39, community volunteer shared her unforgettable experience when braving to cross the river.

“Noon, kapag tumatawid kami, inaabot kami ng gabi para lang humupa ang ilog kasi napakalalim ng tubig. May balsa naman po pero malakas ang agos ng tubig. (In the past, there are times we spent the night along the road waiting for the flood to subside. The raft cannot traverse because of the strong current),” Yago recounted.

“Muntik na rin ako mawalan ng buhay kasi nagbleeding ako noon hindi ko nga alam kung aabot pa ako kasi sa hirap tumawid (One time, I thought I was about to die because of excessive bleeding. I don’t have any idea if I can still survive because of the difficulty to cross the river),” she added.

Balog also claimed how crossing Busig-on became life threatening.

“May nararanasan kami na mayroon kaming patay sa barangay na hindi mailibing kasi hindi maitawid ang bangkay sa ilog (There was an instance that we were not able to hold a funeral for the dead because of the difficulty to cross the river),” he said.

He also added that pregnant women are forced to give birth in their respective homes which is dangerous),” he added.

For the residents of Cabatuhan, the courage to continue for progress has been the most invaluable act of bravery.

With their participation for development, the spillway sub-project was prioritized under the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS).

The DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS is a program that helps in empowering communities to be part in decision-making, planning and project implementation, thus; reviving the Bayanihan spirit.

From 223 days to 83 days

The implementation of spillway has never been easy because the sub-project must be completed by May 2018 before the closing of Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded sub-projects.

According to its program of works, the spillway is expected to be finished in 223 days, but the construction started in March 10, 2018 which is beyond the prescribed deadline.

The community volunteers together with the barangay council come up with a plan that will ensure the speedy construction.

The barangay captain encouraged all skilled construction workers in their area to help in the sub-project.

“Ang aming manpower sa tulong ng volunteer at mga mamamayan ng Cabatuhan, ay nagawa itong mabilis dahil sa lahat ng aming skilled workers ay dito namin ipinokus maging ang aming ibang proyekto sa aming barangay pansamantalang itinigil upang ibuhos namin dito yung labor force (Our village’s manpower with the help of volunteers and residents of Cabatuhan was able to meet the deadline. The skilled workers also prioritized the community project. We also paused the ongoing projects in the barangay to pour out the labor force for the sub-project.),” Balog explained.

The community also created two shifting system for the workers to cover all tasks needed to complete the construction.

According to Yago, community volunteer as well as laborer during the construction, they would work from 7:30 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. Also, their two-shifting system were interchanged in two-weeks interval.

She also said that being a laborer made a great experience for her as a woman.

“Hindi ko malilimutan na nakaranas ako ng trabaho ng lalaki, na kaya pala ng babae (I won’t forget working as a laborer which is believed to be exclusive only for men, but I was able to prove that women can also do the same,” she stated.

With the efforts of the community, the concrete spillway was finished last May 31, 2018 in which it was completed only in 83 days. This is 140 days advance as compared to the expected days of completion.

It might be considered as work of miracle, but it is a real manifestation that there are many possibilities in the impossible.

Just like what Tommy Lasorda, well-known former manager of Los Angeles Dodgers had said that the difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.

The will to continue despite facing big problems can be the best experience for a human that life isn’t just filled with dreams and aspirations but a sack full of effort.

For Yago, it is the happiest moment for her to achieve something beyond from what she has expected.

“Napakasaya, napakagaan sa loob na nakikita na andiyan ang project. Nakikita ko rin yung pangalan namin na nakapaskil sa may spillway. Ito ay hindi lang sa akin pati rin sa mga anak ko (I felt so happy and fulfilled seeing the project. I am also proud to see my name painted along the spillway. This project won’t be just for me but also for my children),” she said.

The hard work and willpower of the community members became their 83 steps to great fulfillment and start for new developments. /ramsertan

About DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS

Camarines Norte has implemented Kalahi-CIDSS in 12 municipalities with a total implementation grant of PhP 487,952,930.00 and local counterpart contribution of Php 7,735,912.43 from barangay and municipal local government units (LGUs) to fund community-managed sub-projects.

DSWD had allocated Labo with PhP 60,000,000.00 with a counterpart from the LGU of Php 336,883.75.

The construction of concrete spillway has a total project cost of PhP 4,384,105.00 which will benefit 273 households.

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

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

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More than 100 individuals joined the kickoff event of the Family Week Celebration today at Albay Astrodome. This aims to emphasize the appreciation and development of the family as the cornerstone of our country. Likewise, it wants to communicate the importance of having quality time with the family.

Legazpi City— The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region V and its partners celebrate the 26th Family Week by hosting series of activities this month of September adopting the theme: “Tungo sa Maginhawa, Matatag at Panatag na Pamilyang Pilipino”.

The said theme follows the Ambisyon Natin 2040 of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) that embodies the ambitions of the Filipino families for the next 25 years.

Earlier, the Regional Inter-Agency Committee (RIAC) on Filipino Family members officially launched the Family Week with a fun walk from Bicol University grounds to Albay Astrodome followed by a Zumba for the participants.

Dir. Arnel Garcia who joined the kickoff event today emphasized that any family can withstand shifting environments if they have built strong foundations.

He said that DSWD alone cannot eliminate poverty without the help of the poor families who are willing to make their lives better.

“We need to muster our efforts, the government agencies, private organizations and the people, to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty,” Dir. Garcia said.

On the other hand, he also thanked the RIAC member-agencies for their efforts to organize the Family Week events.

The national government agencies that are present earlier in the opening program were Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Audit (COA), NEDA, National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Population Commission (POPCOM), Philippine National Police (PNP) and two faith-based organizations, namely, Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventist.

Also, a Family Forum is scheduled on September 27, 2018 at FICC Amphitheatre, BU East Campus, Legazpi City with 200 individuals who will receive lectures and discussions about the following topics: Addiction Recovery for Families, Migration and Families, Issues in Families with Aging Members, Child Safety at Home and in the Community and Family Friendly Laws.

The Dionisio Family of Labo, Camarines Norte will be awrded during the said forum as the Regional Winner for this year’s Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). They will receive a plaque and PhP15,000.00 cash prize.

Every year, the Family Week is celebrated every fourth week of September. This is based on Presidential Proclamation No. 60 signed by former president, Fidel V. Ramos on September 28, 1992. It aims to emphasize the appreciation and development of the family as the cornerstone of our country. Likewise, it wants to communicate the importance of having quality time with our family.

The RIAC on Filipino Family was formed as the regional counterpart of the National Steering Committee chaired by DSWD. The steering committee develops plan and implements programs and activities in public and private sectors for Family Week observance. The committee is also tasked to raise the awareness of every Filipino in the issues facing the Filipino family and its effect on each member.

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