Davao City – College and technical-vocational students take center stage this year as the Interagency Council Against Trafficking in Region XI (IACAT XI) launches for the first time a video infomercial competition for them.

This was bared by Director Priscilla N. Razon of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

With a maximum length of two minutes and using any form of multi-media gadget, IACAT XI was able to elicit seven entries from colleges and universities throughout the region, Director Razon said.

“We will have the screening of entries on Wednesday, November 18 at Cinematheque Davao and subsequently, the public viewing and judging of the five finalists is set at Abreeza Mall Cinema on December 4,” she added.

According to Alma D. Acera, focal of DSWD Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons, judging will also use public poll during the public viewing and through number of likes obtained in Facebook.

Acera said winning videos will be played in Davao Region cinemas and taxicabs as a motivational tool in the in the campaign for the prevention and eradication of human trafficking.

Three top entries will receive a plaque and P 30,000.00, P 20,000.00 and P 10,000.00, respectively during the awards ceremonies on December 11, she said.

Launch of the official IACAT XI Infomercial for 2015 as well as the Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with Taxi Operators and Cinema Owners will also be conducted on said date, Acera added.

The nation once again underscores the importance of public vigilance against human trafficking with its annual observance of the Human Trafficking Awareness Month from November 12 until December 12.

In Davao Region, the month-long event opened with a press conference Kapihan sa PIA held at NCCC Mall Conference Room on November 6.

Other activities include a Zumba For A Cause simultaneously conducted in Davao City, Digos City and Compostela Valley; and a Stakeholders’ Conference and Grand Launch of Project Counter TIPSTER to Fight Trafficking In Person.

IACAT is the regional body that caters to cases of trafficking. Member agencies are DSWD, DOJ, DILG, DepEd, CHED, DOH, DFA, NCIP, DOLE, POEA, PIA, OWWA, PPA, CAAP, PNP, NBI, BID, CHR, Tambayan Center, Child Alert, Center for Overseas Workers, LGU Davao City, PLGUs and city local governments.

Forms of trafficking in persons (TIP) include illegal recruitment, sexual exploitation, forced labor or involuntary servitude, removal or sale of organs, armed activities of children, cybersex and sex tours. (DSWD)

It is about friend-raising not fund raising.

Philippine Information Agency Director General Jose Mari Oquiñena inspired the participants of the 13th Mindanao Communicators Network Congress and Workshop in its closing program on October 13 to build relationships.

“Moving forward for our nation, Filipinos should go back to where we are good at, (which is) building relationships,” DG Oquiñena said.

He emphasized that the mission in building relationship is to integrate each other’s talents.

“The goal here is unity. There is no other way to progress, other than being united.”

More than 200 information officers from national line agencies and local government units all over Mindanao attended the congress on November 11-13 at Pryce Plaza Hotel, Cagayan de Oro.

Oquiñena also challenged the participants and the private media to make true good stories.

“I want you to tell you the truth and the truth is, it is not always bad news.”

He said that there are positive stories in the region that the nation needs to know and be proud of.

Oquiñena also honoured the public communicators for disseminating government programs to the public and creating a change of perspective to Mindanao. (PIA11)

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)

Davao Oriental, November 9, 2015 – Some 17,388 houses have already been turned over to families whose homes were completely damaged in the typhoon Pablo-hit towns of Boston, Cateel, Baganga, and Caraga in the Province of Davao Oriental.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development XI said that the shelter program dubbed as Modified Shelter Assistance Program is now close to its target of 19,880, owing to the continuous and immediately construction of houses after the typhoon Pablo devastation in 2012.

Funded by the DSWD and facilitated by the Provincial Government, these housing units have already benefited majority of the affected families who lost their homes due to the typhoon.

During the latest batch of turnover of houses to 456 beneficiaries in Boston, Cateel and Baganga, the DSWD XI through its Social Welfare and Development Officer Gemma dela Cruz lauded the efforts of the Provincial Government for the quick implementation of the massive housing program.

She highlighted Davao Oriental as one of the most efficient provinces in the country in terms of disaster rehabilitation, particularly in permanent shelter provision. In fact, Davao Oriental’s Building Back Better Program has now become the model in the entire country in terms of disaster response and rehabilitation.

She added that despite the limited resources, the Provincial Government managed to provide beneficiaries houses that are equipped with the basic features of a home, such as a comfort room, electrification, water, and drainage system. In addition, the houses were also built with a ceiling and exterior wall painting – features that are not covered in the initial core house plan.

Residents extended their thanks to the Provincial Government along with its partners who provided them assistance at the time of their dire need. They say that the housing program helped not only in providing shelter but as well as in sanitation practices considering that houses are equipped with its own comfort rooms.

Meanwhile, dela Cruz also addressed several issues in terms of the implementation of shelter assistance. First, she emphasized that only P10,000 Emergency Shelter Assistance was given to each family with partially damaged homes, in contrary to the claims of some groups here that it was P30,000.

“The P10,000 aid was clearly stated in the Memorandum of Agreement signed by  DSWD Regional Director Priscilla Razon and Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon – whom the Sangguniang Panalalawigan had previously authorized to enter into the said MOA signing,” she stressed.

Furthermore, she also reminded beneficiaries of their counterpart to take good care of their house and not to sell it as it will be their legacy to their family and to their children.

Gracing the turnover ceremony are Board Member Niño Uy and First District Representative Nelson L. Dayanghirang.

At the turnover ceremony, Governor Malanyaon congratulated the beneficiaries who are now proud homeowners. She urged them to continue their support to the various development programs of the Provincial Government, particularly on the emerging eco-tourism development in their areas that holds the promise of further local economic improvement.

For his part, Cong. Dayanghirang lauded  the efforts of the Provincial Government under the leadership of Gov. Malanyaon. Complementing the governor’s eco-tourism projects, Dayanghirang reported the nearing completion of the road networks linking Davao Oriental towns to the boundary of the neighboring Compostela ValleyProvince. He also vowed that he will continue to back the thrusts of the present administration and will continue to pour support to the typhoon Pablo-affected towns. (By KLD/PIO DO)

We usually gathered and held our hearing in an open area. When the rain starts to pour or if it’s too humid, we stop the hearing and we would end up not settling the issues. As a datu, I implement justice and law to maintain peace and unity. We serve as judge and decision makers too.

It was never easy to balance everything, especially when there is no venue to settle our problems. When problems are not settled, tribal wars would erupt.

Through KC Pamana, the Ata-Manobo tribe underwent Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA) in which Datus and community residents were given the privilege to determine their problem. This was a leap of faith and a hope to our tribe. Through the Kalahi-CIDSS, the peace that we yearned for so long was getting closer to our reach. We decided to build an Ata-Manobo Libulongan Center (justice hall).

This center could help us in maintaining peace in our communities. Further, this would help boost our economy as livelihood activities will no longer be disrupted by the wars. Kalahi-CIDSS provided us more than just a ‘peace’ center.  Above all, it helped mobilized indigenous people to become leaders and peace-makers in their own right. (DSWD)

-Datu Jaime Panuayan, Assistant mandatory representative of the Ata-Manobo tribe of Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao Del Norte

My roots and culture will never hinder me from improving my life and that of my family’s. I am very happy that I’ve been a part of this survey of DSWD. Through this, I am able to help my fellow tribesman to be interviewed and be given the chance to benefit from upcoming programs of government. My wife Genalyn also serves as parent leader of MCCT-IP.

Our situation is difficult. Even if we are from the area, we could not help but be apprehensive because of the tribal conflict which is one of the problems in the community, and also the armed encounters between the military and the rebels. But what matters most is coordinating with the local leaders and making them understand the purpose of the survey.

When our team was caught in a crossfire between rebels and military troops in Sitio Nasilaban while we had an on-going assessment, we hid at a nearby school then resumed the survey after the crossfire because we didn’t want to miss out on any family.

My being an enumerator is an advantage to my community as I know the dialect and I can let them understand that government will not leave out the IPs. (DSWD)

Torays Dagwa, 24, KC and MCCT-IP beneficiary and IP Listahanan enumerator of Sitio Dalingding, Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao Del Norte

Every morning and after class, I traversed the hilly, mud-laden 1.5-kilometer path just to be able to attend school. I am happy to report that I have been a consistent first honor student since Grade 1 and I graduated class valedictorian last March.

Pantawid Pamilya has provided a huge support especially in the education of children beneficiaries. Parents are encouraged to send their children to school and the children, as well, are excited to go to school because of the program.

Pantawid Pamilya is one of the instruments given by God to help us, hence we should take care of this. To my co-graduates, we should not lose hope, we should strive hard to be able to finish school. (DSWD)

-Rogelyn Cautivo, 12, Pantawid IP child grantee and class valedictorian of Lomundao, Marilog District, Davao City

I belong to the Tausug tribe and I am an active participant of DSWD programs. If not for my involvement in Pantawid, my children would not have reached college. With my participation, I have become visible and contributing member in my community. I have also helped a number of Badjao families who we now fondly call ‘Goodjaos’. I am overwhelmed and very grateful for the opportunity to grow and change for the better as I am also a part of the Tausug community. (DSWD)

-Pacita Nakilan, Pantawid Pamilya Parent Leader and SLP recipient of Davao City