Pantawid beneficiary Saudi Ismali of Barangay Sasa receives a boat paddle from DSWD Director Priscilla N. Razon during the turnover of three motorized fishing boats to 30 Pantawid beneficiaries of barangays Sasa, Tibungco and Ilang. Also joining the project launch Thursday are [L-R] DSWD Project Development Officer Angelo Iňigo, DSWD Assistant Director for Operations Rebecca A. Santamaria, DBCOM Resident Manager Anecito B. Limbago, Barangay Tibungco Chair Merjade D. Calvo and Barangay Sasa Chair Juanito Flores Jr.

Director Razon emphasized the importance of Public-Private Partnership in her message as Davao Bay Coconut Oil Mills, Inc. (DBCOM) funded the fishing boats with Php 150,000.00. “This is our third engagement with DBCOM and we can confirm that our partnership with the private sector is truly working as also proven with our collaboration with other private companies and organizations in the region. We are happy that we have come this far and we hope this will continue in the future.”

Addressing the recipients, she said, “This is a good way of starting off the New Year. You see, Pantawid Pamilya does not just look into your children’s health and education but it goes beyond that by providing you access to economic opportunities like this one. ”

Ismali in his response assured DSWD and DBCOM that they will take care of the project. “Dili namo sayangon ang proyekto. Among gyud ning amomahon og sakto ug ampingan pag-ayo aron molambo (We will not let this [project] go to waste. We will really take good care of this).”

DBCOM’s Limbago promised that the success of the project will challenge them to put in additional funding for more motorized boats. “Should this endeavour prosper as this will be regularly monitored by DSWD, we will not hesitate to provide more funding to benefit more families in these three barangays.”

“Let us prove that we can manage well this project so we can receive more projects in the future,” Barangay Captain Calvo challenged the recipient-families in her message. DSWD