The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office XI has translated its quick facts into 19 major Indigenous People (IP) dialects in the region. “This is to heighten the program’s advocacy by translating the program core values into a language that they can fully and clearly understand,” shared DSWD Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon.

The Pantawid Pamilya quick facts had been translated into the following dialects: Cebuano, Mandaya, Obu-manovu, Dibabawon, Mansaka, Sama, B’laan, Kalagan, Tagakaulo, Bagobo-Klata, Bagobo-Tagabawa, Manobo, Matigsalug, Manguwangan (New Corella), Manguwangan (Montevista), Sangil, Tausug, Maguindanao and Badjao.

“A series of writeshops have been conducted wherein tribal chieftains and IP community leaders were invited to translate the said material. The output of the writeshop was then submitted to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for review,” added Director Razon.

The edited copy of the translated material was developed into a flipchart which the Pantawid Pamilya City/Municipal Link in the area can readily use during the monthly conduct of the Family Development Sessions (FDS).

Myrna Ongay, a Matigsalug, of Sitio Upian, Marilog confirmed how the translation of the Pantawid material into their own lingo has greatly helped her and her co-beneficiaries in understanding and appreciating the program. Now it is clearer and easier to understand the ideas being presented to them, she pointed out.

Pantawid Pamilya covers 72,550 IPs in all four provinces in Davao Region. That is, 38.5% of the total 190,000 program beneficiaries. DSWD