Davao City  -As a culminating activity for the National Family Week Celebration and in observance of the National Family Thanksgiving Day, the regional office here of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will convene on Sunday, September 28, some 1840 families for the event dubbed 2014 National Family Day and Convergence Caravan.

Coming from the all provinces and cities in Region XI, the invited families which are composed of over 5000 members, are beneficiaries of the DSWD major social protection programs such as Pantawid Pamilya, KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP, Sustainable Livelihood, Supplementary Feeding and Grassroots Participatory Budgeting.

According to Director Priscilla N. Razon of DSWD, the event to be held at UM Matina Campus Gymnasium will be simultaneously conducted by DSWD Offices in the 17 regions all over the country.  In Metro Manila, over 10,000 beneficiaries were invited to participate while other regions will gather 5000 each, she said.

Expected to attend the Davao Region celebration is DSWD Undersecretary for General Administration and Support Services Mateo G. Montaňo.

“In this family day, we will launch the Pantawid Pamilya Kaya Ko Ang Pagbabago Campaign and we will provide a venue for the beneficiaries to speak out and share the positive changes in their lives following their participation in DSWD programs and in other government programs. We also want to recognize outstanding families who are active and involved in community affairs,” Director Razon said.

Through this, family-beneficiaries from different areas will have the opportunity to meet, interact and learn from each other, Director Razon added.

The event comes in two parts  -Hakbang “Kaya Ko” Sa Onse Family Fun Walk and Family Day and Convergence Caravan.

To kick off at 6:30 a.m., the Fun Walk will start in two areas: one at SIR Barangay Hall, Sandawa [to enter UM Main Gate along Matina] and the other one at DCWD Office Matina Highway [to enter UM Maa Gate]. Participants will then converge at the gymnasium at 7:30 a.m.

The family day program will cover Family Talent Showcase, Family Feud, Family Sayawit, Huwarang Pamilya Awarding, and Family Ceremonial Commitment.

On top of the family participants, DSWD has invited line agencies like DOH, DILG, DEPED, DTI, DA, DAR, TESDA, BFAR, DOLE, PHILHEALTH, POPCOM, DOT, NEDA, NNC, DPWH, DENR and LANDBANK. Also expected to attend are heads of Civil Society Organizations, partners from the media community, and social welfare and development officers from the local government units. DSWD