Davao City – The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will conduct the annual Regional Children’s Congress and Awarding of Winners for the Search for Exemplary Children of Pantawid Pamilya on November 11-14, 2015 at Eden Nature Park and Resort.

“Children beneficiaries are considered one of the stakeholders of Pantawid Pamilya. They play an important role in fulfilling the education and health outcomes of the program. With this, it is important that they are equipped with the right knowledge and skills for them to reach their full potentials as members of Pantawid Pamilya households, and ultimately of the community where they belong. In order to do so, Pantawid Pamilya developed the Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children, an avenue that will recognize the children beneficiaries of the program who set excellent examples at home, in school and in their community,” said DSWD XI Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon.

The search began in 2012 and is already it its 4^th year of selecting and celebrating the exemplary children of the program.

The top three finalists from the regional search in each region will qualify to participate in the National Children’s Congress in Metro Manila. The awarding of the regional winner and provincial winners will be on Friday, November 13. The regional winner will receive P 20,000 and plaque, while the provincial winners will receive P 10,000 each plus plaque.

The Regional Children’s Congress is a series of activities and workshops that aim to teach the children participants the importance of the role of the child within the Filipino family and in nation-building.

During the workshops, children participants are given a chance to discuss the issues that directly affect them. They are also given a chance to air their voices through policy recommendation and support solicitation that may include their appeal for the institutionalization of Pantawid Pamilya.

This year, DSWD is happy to welcome all 78 children beneficiaries from all over Region XI to this year’s children’s congress.

It is expected that these activities will encourage the children participants to be responsible not only in complying with the conditions and the ideals of the program but more so in becoming outstanding citizens who will be emulated by children and even adults. This is also a strategy to encourage children to nurture habits and values that would mold them to be good citizens by being responsible at home, school and in their communities.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a human development program of the Philippine Government that invests in the health and education of Filipino children belonging to poor households. (DSWD)