ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING. The anti-human trafficking community mural painting done on the fence of Southern Philippines Medical Center-Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (SPMC-IPBM) compound along J.P. Laure Ave. gets unveiled on Monday by members of Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT-XI) Network. Launched on December 1st this year, the IACAT XI Mural Painting Awareness Campaign Against Human Trafficking bears the theme “Violence-Free Community Starts With Me”. (DSWD)

CHEER DANCE. Personnel of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) perform in the Cheer Dance Competition during the awarding ceremonies of DSWD Davao Region 3^rd Director’s Cup. Team Kalahi-CIDSS won the contest followed by Team ComVal and Team Sustainable Livelihood. Sports played in the Director’s Cup include basketball, volleyball and badminton with Team ComVal as over-all champion. (DSWD)

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION. Pantawid Pamilya municipal and city links acquire resource mobilization skills and practical techniques during the recent four-day Skills Enhancement Training on Resource Mobilization at Secdea Beach Resort. Included in the discussions were Principles of Resource Mobilization, Planning for Resource Mobilization, Communicating with Partners and Stewardship of Resources, and Proposal Writing. Resource persons were from Ateneo De Davao University, Philippine Academy of Sakya and some technical persons of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). (DSWD)

RELIEF GOODS. Distribution of family food packs on Wednesday to 2091 families of Pasakadday Salugpongan Kalimmudan (PASAKA), a confederation of Lumad organization in Southern Mindanao. Venue is Barangay Sto. Nino, Sitio Tibucag, Talaingod, Davao Del Norte. Each food pack contains six kilos rice, four cans sardines, four cans corned beef, and six sachets 3in1 coffee. The food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) cost Php 696,303.00. (DSWD)

PANTAWID EXEMPLARY CHILDREN. 11 year-old John Christian Victoriano of San Isidro, Davao Oriental is the 2016 Exemplary Child Regional Winner. He bested four regional search contenders -Clarence Penaso from New Corella, Davao del Norte; Jaybee Padasay from Matanao, Davao del Sur; Elisha Yehsa Marquizo from New Bataan, Compostela Valley; and Chlarince Lamila from Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental. Also in photo are [from left] Florie May Tacang of Kaugmaon Center for Children’s Concerns; Elna Arenal, San Isidro Municipal Social Welfare Officer; Jena Victoriano, mother of John Christian; and DSWD Regional  Director Mercedita P. Jabagat.

The Search for Exemplary Child of Pantawid Pamilya is an annual event started in 2012. It is a competition open to exemplary Pantawid Pamilya children-beneficiaries who are 10 to 14 years old. The regional winner received Php 20,000 in cash while the provincial winners got Php 10,000 each.  The regional and provincial winners are set to attend the National Children’s Congress on November 17-23 in Metro Manila. The regional winner will then compete in the national search. 

At the recent Awarding of Winners, John Christian encouraged co-children beneficiaries to “never give up and to use life’s daily challenges as lamp posts towards their dreams.” (DSWD)

ANTI-TRAFFICKING. [from left] Director of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega, Regional Prosecutor and Chair of Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT-XI Network) Atty. Janet Grace D. Fabrero, and Chief of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Community-Based Services Pedrita B. Dimakiling sign on Friday the Memorandum of Agreement on “The First Brush” Mural Painting Activity held at SPMC-Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (SPMC-IPBM) compound.

The Mural Painting highlights the observance of the Human Trafficking Awareness Month which carries the theme “Violence-Free Community Starts With Me”. Painting area is the outer fence of the SPMC-IPBM along J.P. Laurel Ave. Starting on December 3, actual painting will be rendered by Fine Arts students of Philippine Women’s College and volunteer visual artists from IACAT-XI Network member agencies. Other partners in the Mural Painting include Davao City Government, Habitat for Humanity, Philippine National Police, Department of Justice, Global Impact Phils, Davies Paints Phils, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Health, and all other members of IACAT-XI Network. (DSWD) #EndHumanTrafficking #StayOnTier1 #VAWfreePH

CHILDREN’S CONGRESS. Over 80 children from Pantawid families all over the region participate in various workshops during the Regional Children’s Congress at Grand Menseng Hotel from November 9-10. Workshop topics include Ako at ang Aking Karapatan, Ako at ang Aking Kakayahan, and Ako at ang Aking Pangarap. Awarding of winners of the Regional Search for Exemplary Child of Pantawid Pamilya is set on Day 2 where a showcase of talents will be featured. (DSWD)

Kalahi-CIDSS Construction of Classrooms for Lumad (CCL) Focal Fidel U. Diaz and Municipal Area Coordinator for Kalahi-CIDSS Jean S. Bautista sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

 Malita, Davao Occidental – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the municipality of Malita recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Local Government Unit (LGU)-led implementation of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) at Sto. Rosario Parish Seminar Hall.

Prior to signing, Fidel U. Diaz, Kalahi-CIDSS Construction of Classrooms for Lumad (CCL) Focal, oriented beneficiaries, municipal and barangay officials on the program and its underlying requirements.

Local chief executives and DSWD representatives confirmed their commitment to support Kalahi-CIDSS by signing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

The MOA Signing was followed with the Signing of the “Panaad sa Pagsuporta” (Manifesto of Support), signifying commitment of LGU officials, DSWD officers, and beneficiaries to work together.

Other municipalities that committed to implement this scheme are New Bataan, Malita, Caraga, and Cateel.

This procedure will also transition to LGU–led Community-Driven Development (CDD) implementation. This, after the municipalities have satisfactorily completed the two cycles of program implementation.

“It is the goal of the program to provide well performing Kalahi-CIDSS municipalities the grant intended to support their efforts in integrating CDD approaches and strategies in the Local Planning Processes to address poverty,” said DSWD XI Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat.

“I am truly overwhelmed how Kalahi-CIDSS program enriches the lives of the Malitanos, I have seen the influence and effect of the program to communities. The community volunteers’ skills were enhanced through its capacity building activities,” shared Jean S. Bautista, Municipal Area Coordinator for Kalahi-CIDSS, as she conveyed the message in behalf of Mayor Bradly L. Bautista.

Bautista added that on the third cycle of the program, the community volunteers should embolden their volunteerism in the program. She noted that the values and lessons that they learned during the first and second cycles must be applied properly.

Presently, the municipality of Malita has completed 35 sub-projects in 30 barangays with a total grant allocation of P 40,000,000.00.

From 2014, Kalahi-CIDSS has completed 338 community sub-projects in 27 covered municipalities in Region XI.

Meanwhile, Kalahi-CIDSS has recently conducted an orientation on the institutionalization of Community-Driven Development – Local Planning Process (CDD-LPP) for cycle three implementation in identified municipalities in the region.

Attended by Local Chief Executives (LCEs), Vice Mayors, Sangguniang Bayan Representatives, and members of Municipal Inter Agency Committee (MIAC), the orientation aimed to assess the municipalities’ performance using the LGU Capacity Assessment Tool that measures good governance at the local level.

Kalahi-CIDSS is a community-driven development program of the Philippine Government aiming to empower people through sustainable development, enhanced participation in local governance, and management of poverty alleviation projects. (DSWD)