DAVAO CITY (DSWD XI) – At least 1034 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Davao Region have completed technical-vocational course from Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology and Endonela Institute of Technology Foundation.

The Pantawid beneficiaries were identified through the employment facilitation track of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Mercedita P. Jabagat, Director of DSWD said, one of the thrusts of the Department is to access active partner-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya to livelihood opportunities to help them improve their level of well-being and break the cycle of poverty.

“We are happy to announce the successful engagement of our Pantawid recipients in these technical courses which could readily link them to possible employment. This is the first batch of graduates and we are targeting more members of Pantawid families to participate,” Director Jabagat said.

DSWD records show that 208 graduated in Automotive Servicing – National Competency II (NC II), 239 in Shielded Metal Arc Welding, 30 in Cellular Phone Repair, 120 in Carpentry, 120 in Massage Therapy Leading to NC II, 89 in Computer Hardware Servicing NC II, 30 in Security Services NC II, 38 in Construction Painting NC II, 60 in Housekeeping NC II, 40 in Driving NC II, and 60 in Beauty Care NC II.

Pantawid Pamilya is a poverty-alleviation program of the national government. It provides conditional cash assistance to identified poor families. The family beneficiaries must comply with conditions on health, education and attendance to the monthly-held Family Development Session to claim their cash grants.

On the other hand, SLP is a community-based capacity building program that seeks to improve the socio-economic status of family recipients, in partnership with local governments, national government and non-government agencies.

SLP is implemented through two tracks -Micro-Enterprise Development (MED) and Employment Facilitation (EF). MED track supports micro-enterprises for organizational and economic viability while EF track assists beneficiaries in accessing appropriate employment opportunities. (DSWD)