Legazpi City—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V has commenced with the observance and celebration of the 27th Family Week last September 23, 2019.

As part of the Memorandum from the DSWD Secretary, the DSWD FO V observed two (2) important activities last September 23, 2019 to launch the 27th Family Week Celebration. The DSWD FO V rang the family bells at exactly 12 noon and dismissed work at 3:00 PM to observe the “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day” to allow employees to spend mealtime with their families.

The theme of this year’s family week: “Tungo sa Maginhawa, Matatag at Panatag na Pamilyang Pilipino.” It envisions better initiatives to strengthen the Filipino Family. The theme follows the Ambisyon Natin 2040 set forth by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) representing the collective long-term vision and aspiration of the Filipino people for themselves and for the country.

“We want to strengthen the relationship among family members to lessen social problems. The DSWD has programs including 4Ps to reinforce our values at home,” DSWD Dir. Arnel Garcia said.

DSWD FO V as the lead agency of the Family Week, will conduct threefold events on September 27, 2019 at A & A Bed and Breakfast Inn, Legazpi City in partnership with the Provincial Local Government Unit (LGU) of Albay. Almost 150 participants from families all over the province of Albay will join in the celebration.

There will be a Parents’ Forum in the morning that includes discussions about Positive Parenting by DSWD and Child Safety at Home by the Department of Health (DOH). Moreover, a Family Fun Day which is scheduled in the afternoon is comprised of games and contests that will give time for the families to bond. A total cash prize of PhP63,890 will be given away to the Family Fun Day winners.

Similarly, the Regional Winners of the 2019 Huwarang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will be recognized in the afternoon. The Palima Family of Nabua, Camarines Sur is the 2019 Regional Huwarang 4Ps who will receive PhP15,000 and plaque of recognition. The Barceta Family of Catanduanes is the first runner-up with PhP10,000 while the Perez Family of Sorsogon is the second runner-up with PhP5,000.

The Huwarang 4Ps families were judged based on the following criteria:
1. 25%-A family that maintains strong family ties and harmonious relationships and upholds Filipino values despite the challenges that poverty causes/brings.
2. 20%-A family that practices and promotes healthy living and taking care of the environment.
3. 20%-A family that is actively involved in community activities.
4. 20%-A family who inspires other members of the community.
5. 15%-A family who strives to improve living condition amidst difficult situation.

The Palima Family will represent Bicol Region in the National 4Ps Family Day this weekend in Manila.

On September 30, 2019, the members of the media in Albay will visit the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) to witness the Family Day for the kids in the said facility. There will also be a forum about Adoption and Foster Care.

As mandated by Executive Order No. 238, the DSWD chairs the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on the Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) with different members from public and private sectors. The committee seeks to strengthen family unity and relationships through meaningful celebration and promotion of Family values. It also aims to implement responsive services and popularize family-centric programs and services at the grassroots level.

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Legazpi City- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol is currently conducting simultaneous training to field workers in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes who will undertake the 3rd household assessment in the region this October-December.

“The training serves as the final phase of the screening process. It’s a crucial part because we need to equip the staff with the required skills and competencies to successfully conduct the Listahanan household assessment,” DSWD Director Arnel Garcia said.

Garcia added that training to other provinces will be conducted this month until October.

Around 2,610 new field staff will go through intensive training across all provinces in the region. This includes lectures on procedures and guidelines on how to conduct the household assessment, roles, and responsibilities of each staff, and simulation exercises.

The 3rd household assessment aims to update the list of poor households who will be prioritized by the government and other agencies. Executive order (EO) 867 of 2010 mandates the DSWD to maintain a system which will serve as the repository of the data on poor households and shall be updated every four years.

Likewise, all national government agencies shall use the data generated by DSWD in prioritizing beneficiaries of government’s programs and services.

In 2015, the DSWD Bicol conducted its second assessment where 1,082,582 households were assessed and 372,451 households were identified as poor.

For this assessment, the agency targets 1,143,846 in Bicol out of 16.1 million households nationwide.

Meanwhile, Garcia encourages the public to participate in the upcoming assessment by getting involved in the house-to-house interviews to be conducted.

“The participation of the community is very important, that’s why we wanted them to get involve to ensure that no poor households should be left behind,” Garcia explained.

He also said that being interviewed by the Listahanan will not automatically qualify them to any program of the Department or other agencies. He further said that Listahanan does not offer nor provide program benefits because it is a tool that puts faces to the poor

Listahanan is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in the country. It serves as a reference by different agencies in the implementation of their programs and services for the poor and marginalized sectors. ###crb

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The Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Pio V. Corpuz in Masbate institutionalized the processes and activities of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services’ (DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS’) Community-Driven Development strategy last July 29, 2019.

Based on the ordinance, the MLGU shall adopt the criteria setting process of the program in identifying the projects for funding; create operation and maintenance (O&M) program for the sustainability of the projects; adopt the 80% attendance rate during the barangay assembly and 30% total workforce allocated for women in paid labor for the construction of projects.

The Criteria Setting of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS is a venue for localized decisions where the communities involved take control of decisions in prioritizing projects based on criteria, they prepared themselves. Another aspect of the program is the O&M wherein the communities should manage, operate, maintain and sustain the project.

DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS also requires 80% attendance in barangay assemblies and 30% workforce for women in paid labor to ensure that all sectors are part of planning, decision making and implementation for development projects.

According to Municipal Councilor Abel Prudenciado, author of the ordinance, the LGU decided to institutionalize CDD because of its benefits and effectiveness in the communities.

“Nakapagbigay ito ng magandang programa sa ating komunidad at isa dito yung pagbibigay karapatan o kapangyarihan sa mga simpleng mamamayan makilahok sa pagpaplano at pagdedesisyon upang maisakatuparan ang kanilang proyektong idinulog (It provided an excellent program to the communities such as giving rights or power to ordinary citizens in planning, decision-making to achieve their needed projects),” he said.

CDD is a globally recognized strategy in which residents were the ones who identify their specific needs in the community, decide a possible intervention and implement the applicable solution.

The municipality engaged in the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS implementation in 2014. With a grant allocation of Php45,087,110.88, there are 33 funded sub-projects in which 31 are completed. The program also trained 519 community volunteers from the different barangays that implemented the community projects.

Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President Leonila Lepasana also explained that the CDD processes will be integrated and included in the annual investment plan (AIP) and budget to implement the projects at the barangay level.

“Ito ay i-implement sa AIP at pwede na siyang lagyan ng budget upang mai-guide ang mga barangay captain (This will be implemented in the AIP with corresponding budget to guide the barangay captains),” Lepasana said.

Lepasana encouraged other LGUs to adopt the CDD processes for the benefit of the communities.

“Sana mai-institutionalize din ito sa ibang LGUs kasi hindi naman sa atin ito o sa personal na pangangailangan kundi sa community (We hope this will be also institutionalized to other LGUs because this is not for personal gains but for the community),” she exclaimed.

In line with this, the municipalities of Pio V. Corpuz, Cawayan and Dimasalang also approved resolutions supporting the institutionalization of CDD. /ramsertan/

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Anyone can notice the beauty of her gleaming smile because it shows her endless passion to help. It is also very evident in her that having a disability is not an excuse not to yearn for the community’s development.

Regina Buban, 39, a person with an orthopedic disability who was crippled in her left leg by polio at a young age is a community volunteer of Barangay Lantangan, Mandaon, Masbate.

According to the Republic Act 7277 also known as Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, disabled persons have the same rights as other people to take their proper place in society. They should be able to live freely and as independently as possible. This must be the concerns of everyone the family, community and all government and non-government organizations.

Regina’s disability did not hinder her aspirations to join the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS) as community volunteer to implement a development project in the barangay in 2015.

Based on the Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA) results gathered by the community volunteers, the barangay has proposed the concreting of barangay road on the 2^nd cycle of Kalahi-CIDSS implementation last 2017.

The PSA is a process to identify and analyze the problems and needs of the community as well as propose solutions to address the needs.

According to Regina, all residents suffer from walking on the rough and muddy trail to reach the health center and school.

“Malaki ang naitutulong nito dahil lahat ng residente ay dumadaan doon upang makapunta sa health center at paaralan (The project is a big help to the residents going to to the health center and school),” she said.

Challenges faced during the project implementation

The construction of their road is not always an easy task. According to Regina, the community volunteers have received ridicules from the residents questioning their ability as volunteers.

“Sabi nila, dapat professionals ang sumali sa ganitong implementasyon hindi katulad namin (According to them, it has to be professionals who should oversee the implementation, not us),” she recounted.

Despite all the mockeries, Regina and the community volunteers used it as their driving force to finish the barangay road.

“Isa lang ang goal ko sa buhay, tumanda man ako sa aming barangay mailagay sa puso at isipan nila na ako isang PWD [person with disability] na tao lamang ay nakakaya ko na makagawa na ganoon na project (I have only one goal in life, even though I may grow old, I hope they will put in their hearts and minds that even though I’m a PWD, I am capable of implementing a project),” she said.

Her pregnancy with her youngest child got more difficult because she was part of their road’s implementation team. However, her husband supported her endeavors outside their home such as giving her confidence and logistical support.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa asawa ako kasi full support siya dahil pinapayagan niya ako na magvolunteer at sa paghahatid-sundo niya sa akin kapag may inaayos na documents para sa proyekto. Kung hindi dahil sa kanyang suporta wala din yung proyekto (I am grateful of my husband who gave his full support because he allowed me to volunteer and accompanying me in transmitting the documents for the project. Without him, the project was not completed),” she exclaimed.

Regardless of all adversities, the community has finished the 400-meter barangay road last December 7, 2018.

“Kahit grabe yung ulan, init, pagkadulas at pagkadapa na naranasan ko, iniisip ko na lang na ang aking mga anak ang makikinabang nito (Even though I have experienced extreme weather, slips and falls, I just think of the welfare of my children who will benefit from the project),” Regina said.

The Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) of Lantangan led by Regina was recognized as the regional winner for Person with Disability category of 5^th Regional Bayani Ka! Awards.

Regina is also one of the delegates who represented Bicol Region during the 3^rd Community Volunteers’ Congress and 5^th National Bayani Ka! Awards in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte last August 13-15, 2019. /ramsertan/

About DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS

Masbate implemented DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS in 20 municipalities with a total implementation grant of Php 912,899.669.96 and local counterpart contribution of Php 50,722,968.24 from barangay and municipal local government units (LGUs) to fund community-managed sub-projects.

DSWD had allocated Mandaon with Php 53,310,090.32 and local counterpart contribution of Php 5,578,699.33.

The construction of barangay road has a total project cost of Php 1,365,501.82 with local counterpart contribution of Php 134,498.18 that will benefit 537 households.

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

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

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Goa, Camarines Sur- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol has stepped up its information drive by conducting the first Campus Caravan at Partido State University (PSU) in Goa, Camarines Sur last August 20, 2019.

The Campus Caravan aims to orient and educate the students about the role of the DSWD’s Listahanan in Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“DSWD’s Listahanan data was used by CHED thru the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) in identifying beneficiaries for the TES”, DSWD Dir. Arnel Garcia said.

It also provided a venue to ask how to avail CHED’s TES and other DSWD programs. In 2018, PSU-Goa campus has the highest TES grantees in the Bicol Region with 1,031 students.
More than 2,800 students participated in the campus caravan covering all departments of the university.

Various information, education and communication (IEC) materials like brochures and flyers were also distributed to the students.

Meanwhile, PSU President Raul Bradecina expressed his gratitude to DSWD and CHED for the initiative to disseminate relevant information about Listahanan and TES.

The caravan was spearheaded in partnership with the CHED which seeks to provide information about the Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Education Act.

“RA 10931 is a law made for students to pursue a quality college education without paying tuition and other school fees. It also provides financial aid to students from the poorest of the poor households as well as loan programs who need additional finances to support tertiary education, TES is one program under the law”, Fauziah Gerine Rey,CHED-UNIFAST Regional Coordinator,said.

Rey also added that under the TES, students’ beneficiaries will get an amount of Php 40,000-60,000 per year to cover tuition fees, books, transportation, supplies, room & board, and other school expenses.

On the other hand, Joy Belen III, Project Development Officer IV announced that the 3rd round of household assessment will be conducted in the last quarter of the year. He encourages the students to take part in the said assessment by spreading the information about the Listahanan to their communities.

Listahanan is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are. It serves as the basis of different agencies implementing programs for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors.###crb

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Sec. Bautista went to Tagas, Daraga, Albay last Saturday morning to distribute the relief goods. Daraga was under state of calamity due to Dengue outbreak with 361 cases in its 48 villages.

Daraga, Albay—Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista extended aid to Social Pension beneficiaries in Camalig and families in areas with Dengue outbreak in Albay through Food-for-Work (FFW) program last August 24, 2019.

He went to Brgy. Tagas, Daraga, Albay last Saturday morning to distribute the goods to FFW beneficiaries who were part of the Simultaneous Clean-up Drive in Daraga. Sec. Bautista also engaged in the said clean-up with the residents and local officials. He was also joined by DSWD Usec. Danilo Pamonag and Fernando Trinidad of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with Col. Nap Peñafiel who was heartily welcomed by Daraga Mayor Victory Perete and his party.

According to Sec. Bautista, he wanted to help the Department of Health (DOH) in its fight to end Dengue through the FFW which is the first time to be implemented in Bicol region and in the country.

“This initiative which was started by Bicol is considered as a model that I will recommend to be adopted by other DSWD regional offices as our response to the rising cases of Dengue in the country,” he added.

The DSWD Region V provided a total of 1,000 family food packs with a total cost of P390,000.00 under its FFW in response to the request of the local government unit (LGU) of Daraga as part of their Emergency Response Contingency Plan through a clean-up drive on Dengue Outbreak that covers 361 families from 48 barangays which started last August 15, 2019 and will continue until October 3, 2019. Each family who participated in the Clean-up Drive will receive two (2) family food packs.

Daraga was under the state of calamity due to dengue outbreak. Based on the DOH data from January to August 24, 2019, Daraga has 343 dengue cases and deaths, considered the greatest number all over the towns and cities in the province of Albay.

The FFW is a temporary intervention implemented during disasters that provides food to individuals in exchange for rendering community work such as declogging of canals, maintaining the cleanliness of evacuation centers, and removing of debris on roads and highways, among others.

One (1) DSWD family food pack contains six (6) kilos of rice, four (4) tin cans of corned beef, four (4) tin cans of sardines and six (6) packs of energy drink or coffee sufficient for five members of a family good for two days.

Sec. Bautista joins Social Pension Payout to 705 elderly in Camalig

DSWD Sec. Rolando Bautista personally handed over the Social Pension stipend to one of the 705 beneficiaries in Camalig, Albay who are scheduled for the payout last Saturday (August 24, 2019). He went straight to the house of a 99-year old beneficiary who is frail to claim the grant from the designated venue.

Sec. Bautista also joined the DSWD Region V employees in the distribution of Social Pension stipend (January-June 2019) to 705 beneficiaries of twelve villages in Camalig, Albay last Saturday afternoon. He also went straight to the house of a 99-year-old senior citizen to personally handover the aid who was seen to be delighted of the official’s presence.

The whole team of Mayor Irwin Baldo received the DSWD key officials and other guests during the Social Pension payout. The LGU of Camalig provided a conducive venue for the payout, amenities and logistical support to conduct the DSWD payout.

DSWD Region V began with the Social Pension payout in Bicol last July. As of August 16, 2019, DSWD released the stipend for 2019 first semester stipend to 100,774 elderly amounting to PhP302,322,000.00 in Bicol region alone.

For the remaining towns and cities, the beneficiaries and their families are advised to coordinate with their Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) or local social welfare and development office (LSWDO) for the payout schedule. DSWD Region V is closely coordinating with these offices for the Social Pension program.

For Social Pension beneficiaries who cannot personally claim during the scheduled payout, an authorized representative identified by the beneficiary and registered with DSWD FO shall be allowed to claim the stipend.

As indicated in the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 or RA 9994, the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens is an additional government assistance which aims to: improve the condition of indigent senior citizens by augmenting their daily subsistence and medical needs; reduce incidence of hunger; and protect them from neglect. abuse, deprivation and natural and man-made disasters.

Pursuant to the eligibility criteria as may be determined by the DSWD, indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to Five hundred pesos (Php 500) to augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs.

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Legazpi City—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V has started releasing the schedule of the educational assistance to 28,150 target indigent college and senior high school students all over Bicol region.

The processing and release of the said assistance are being done at various DSWD’s satellite offices with the following addresses and dates:

The DSWD is now texting the Educational Assistance clients for their designated schedule (Monday to Friday). Also, the DSWD has also sought for the help of the LGUs through local social welfare and development offices (LSWDOs) to disseminate the schedule.

Clients are requested to bring the following documents (photocopy and original) during the scheduled assessment, interview and payout:
1. Certificate of Enrolment/Assessment Form (Certified True Copy)- fully accomplished with complete signatories: student, assessor, verifier and registrar
2. Validated school ID (Certified True Copy)- must bear the student’s signature, validated for currently enrolled school year and semester
3. Original copy of Certificate of Residency/Indigence (the name of the relative or representative should be indicated in this document if client is minor)
a. Includes the relationship between the client-student and representative
b. Erasures are not allowed
c. Duly signed by the Brgy. Captain (original signature only)
d. Bears official Brgy. seal/ Brgy. Captain certifies/attests if there’s no official seal
4. Photocopy of valid IDs of the client-student or relative/representative

Based on the DSWD guidelines, the least amount a client-student can receive is PhP2,000 but will also depend on the social worker’s assessment.

On the other hand, this educational aid will not cover expenses for graduate and postgraduate studies.

DSWD reminds the public that it will no longer accept additional clients for its educational assistance. For the current school year (first and second semester), the enlistment was completed through the local government units (LGUs) last June 2019.

The Educational Assistance under DSWD is an assistance given to eligible students to help defray school expenses and/or cost of sending students/children to school such as school fees, supplies, projects, allowance and other related expenses which will be provided once in a school/academic year for students, with priority shall be given to working students in public high school, vocational/ technological schools, state colleges and universities.

For 2018, DSWD Region V served a total of 20,825 students under the said aid with a total cost of assistance of PhP59,322,000.00.

The educational assistance is one of the forms of financial assistance that DSWD provides under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS). AICS serves as a social safety net or stop-gap measure to support the recovery of individuals and families suffering from unexpected life event or crisis.

Clients who would like to avail of financial assistance such as burial and medical assistance can visit any DSWD office near them to know more about the process and requirements.

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Nine (9) community groups will attend the 3^rd National Community Volunteers’ Congress and 5^th National Bayani Ka! Awards with the theme, “Padayon, Kalahi-CIDSS” in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte on August 12-16, 2019.

These community groups are winners of 5th Regional Bayani Ka! Awards recognized last June 14, 2018 at Casablanca Hotel, Legazpi City, Albay.

The Bayani Ka! Awards is an annual event of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS) to recognize exemplary community volunteers, local government units and partners stakeholders who actively engaged in and promoted Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.

CDD is a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction and good governance outcomes.

Here’s the list of community groups who will represent Bicol Region in the national event:

Gender and Development Category

HALUBAN Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) – Brgy. Haluban, Lupi, Camarines Sur

Elderly Category

Pinontingan Senior Citizen’s Organization – Brgy. Pinontingan, Gubat, Sorsogon

Youth Category

Youth Task Force – Brgy. Poblacion Central, Barcelona, Sorsogon

Promotion of Just Peace Category

San Jose BSPMC – Brgy. San Jose, Lupi, Camarines Sur

Sustained Community Volunteer Group Category

Lumbang Water System Association (LUWASA) – Brgy. Lumbang, Pilar, Sorsogon

Persons with Disability (PWD) Category

Lantangan BSPMC – Brgy. Lantangan, Mandaon, Masbate

Improved Local Governance Category

Ilaor Norte Barangay Local Government Unit – Brgy. Ilaor Norte, Oas, Albay

Indigenous Peoples’ Welfare Category

Agta-Tabangnon – Brgy. Salog, Goa, Camarines Sur

Environment Protection Category

Rural Workers’ Organization of Brgy. San Ramon – Brgy. San Ramon, Barcelona, Sorsogon

The event also aims to develop a pool of champions that will help in promoting the institutionalization of CDD.

As of June 2019, there are 2,664 completed community projects in the Bicol Region benefitting 498,139 households.

On the other hand, a total of 85,102 community volunteers actively contributed to local development. /ramsertan/

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