The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) recently conducted CSO led learning visit with Parent Leaders cum Pantawid Pamilya pay-out in Ofracio Hall, Guinobatan, Albay.
It aims to provide awareness about the core poverty alleviation program of the government and make the pay-out activity a worthwhile experience for Pantawid beneficiaries and CSOs.
The activity is piloted in Guinobatan which participated by more than 870 pantawid pamilya beneficiaries, local government units, partners from media and CSOs which are Ago General Hospital, IHelp Inc., Camalig Bank Foundation, Educo, Globe Telecom, Feed Hungry Minds Inc., Unbound, Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council, Alliance of Concerned Servants, Guinobatan Coco Twine Workers Association, Parish Commission on Social Concerns, NACPHIL, Pigrolac, Southern Luzon College Foundation Inc., Rural Bank of Guinobatan and Albay Youth Organization.
During the activity, pay-out is being conducted while various CSOs extended their services to the beneficiaries such as free medical check-up, free massage, provision of clothing’s, school supplies and other basic needs, free training on financial literary, and other livelihood skills training.
Municipal Mayor Ann Y. Ongjoco expressed her gratitude to the services provided by the Department and CSOs to the people of Guinobatan. She added that Pantawid Pamilya has made a drastic change in improving the living condition of her constituents. Education and health condition has been improved.
Also, the activity highlighted the testimonies shared by selected beneficiaries of the Program who are Vicente Moratalla, 46, of Poblacion 4, Morera, Rizalina Natividad, 63, a parent leader of Purok 1, Dona Mercedes, Michelle Caballero of Barangay Calzada, a pantawid pamilya beneficiary and a volunteer of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), Vina Rodrigueza, 16, valedictorian of Batbat National High School and Hanelie Millamina, 21, a Cum Laude graduate of Bachelor of Science Major in Sociology of Bicol University and a grantee of Student-Grant in Aide Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGPPA).
According to Vina as she is fondly called by her friend, pantawid pamilya enables her to achieve her dream of graduating in high school. “Noon, gasera lang ang gamit ko sa pag-gawa ng assignment, kahit wala po akong baon lahat kinakaya ko para makatapos ng pag-aaral. Mabuti po at naging benepisyaryo kami ng programa, maraming salamat sa Pantawid Pamilya at sa lahat ng sumusuporta rito dahil kahit papaano po ay nakabili na ako ng uniform, at on-time na si Mama nakakabayad ng tuition fees, [Before, I used flambeau in preparing my assignments. Although, I have no money to buy snacks, I did everything to finish my study. It is good that we became a beneficiary of the program, thank you so much to Pantawid Pamilya and to everyone who supported the program because we were able to buy uniform and my Mother was able to pay tuition fee on time],” she said while tears fall down in her eyes.
Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia, said the people who testified are the living testimony of the positive impact of the program. Also, he said that the success of the program lies not only on the intensified efforts of the department, its partners government agencies and CSOs but more importantly it lies in the hands of the beneficiaries who are committed to help themselves in order to improve their living condition.***with reports from N.Osial, G.A.N.Lindio, IO-Pantawid Pamilya