Davao City (DSWD XI) -The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI through its Grievance Redress System (GRS) Committee warns its beneficiaries that pawning of their automated teller machine (ATM) cards or cash cards is strictly prohibited.

The GRS guideline under Misbehavior of Beneficiaries clearly states that, “Cash Cards, Pantawid Identification Cards or Kasabutan are not allowed to be used as collateral in loans,” Pantawid Regional Grievance Redress Sytem Focal Odyssa Esther K. Matas stressed.

“On the first offense, members will be subjected to counselling and must promise not to commit the offence again. Habitual offenders will be subject for cash grants suspension or referred for delisting depending on the assessment of the Municipal Link and the Social Worker in-charge,” Matas said.

The GRS guideline under Misbehavior of Beneficiaries which is supported by the approved policy of the Pantawid National Advisory Committee (NAC), states that other offenses of beneficiary or inappropriate utilization of the grants such as but not limited to gambling, vices, pawning and/or collateral and selling of Cash Cards and/or Pantawid Pamilya IDs, using and/or spending grants for purposes other than those intended for education and health needs of the family are all subject to appropriate sanctions.

In 2018, there were 186 beneficiaries who were reported violators of this guideline. The regional office has already placed sanctions to these beneficiaries.

Pantawid Pamilya recipients were also reminded to comply with other conditions of the program to avoid getting low entitlements.

“We urge the parents to give priority to the needs of their children especially to their education and health needs,” Matas said.

“We also ask the cooperation of the general public to report all grievances in their area through their City/Municipal Link or via text message: 4PS[space]REKLAMO[space]NAME[space]Message and send to 0918-912-2813. They can also message us through our Facebook Page “DSWD Region XI”, Matas urged.

To date there are 254,727 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Davao Region. (DSWD)

New Corella, Davao Del Norte (DSWD XI) -The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI turned over 30 units sewing machines and textile/clothing materials to 30 women partner beneficiaries of Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Indigenous Peoples (MCCT-IP) in the municipality of New Corella, Davao Del Norte during the 8th Municipal Indigenous Peoples’ Council General Assembly on January 18, 2019.

DSWD allocated Php 301,000.00 for this livelihood project and will provide a 10-day training to enhance the skills of the women beneficiaries in sewing as well as in marketing their products.

Present during the turnover were DSWD Chief of Promotive Services Division Merlinda A. Paragamac, MCCT-IP Focal Audrie Perez and Community Facilitator of New Corella Jhon Philip Baldonado.

MCCT program aims to reach out to families who are definitely poor and more vulnerable and disadvantaged but are not covered by the regular Conditional Cash Transfer Program or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. (DSWD)

New Corella, Davao Del Norte (DSWD XI) -A total of Php 495,000 worth of checks was released to the four Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations under the Support Service Intervention (SSI) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program for Indigenous Peoples (MCCT-IP) in New Corella, Davao Del Norte during the 8th Municipal Indigenous Peoples’ Council General Assembly at the New Corella Gymnasium.

The four associations approved projects were Microenterprise Development for Barangay Limbaan Indigenous Peoples’ Association (LIPA) with a total budget of Php 165,000.00, Hog Raising for Barangay New Bohol Indigenous Peoples’ Livelihood Association with a budget of Php 75,000.00, General Merchandising of Barangay Suawon Indigenous Peoples Farmers’ Association with a budget of Php 180,000.00, and Hog Raising and Rice Retailing of New Cortez Tribal Association with a budget of Php 75,000.00.

The SSI component of MCCT aims to provide additional assistance to improve the current living condition of IP families and communities. The livelihoods identified were based on the needs of the community in coordination with the program staffs and community facilitators. To date there are 28,794 MCCT beneficiary families in Davao Region. (DSWD)

IGaCoS, Davao del Norte (DSWD XI) – A total of ₱3 million worth of checks were released to the livelihood groups of IGaCoS on Monday at the Samal Multi-Purpose Gymnasium through the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Sustainable Livelihood Program (DSWD-SLP).

Leading the turnover of checks to program beneficiaries were DSWD Field Office 11 Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat, IGaCoS City Social Welfare and Development Office Department Head Abundia Lariosa, SLP Regional Program Coordinator Maria Victoria N. Arancon, City Councilor Richard Guindolman, and City Administrator Atty. Rosemarie B. Garde.

“The amount will be very helpful in the improvement of our people’s livelihood. We hope that they may be able to sustain their projects so that the government can document stories of success from the same,” Atty. Garde, on behalf of Mayor Al David Uy, said during the Monday convocation.

Regional Director Jabagat, in her message, clarified the delay in the releasing of the checks. “The Government is very serious in its mandate to deliver its services to those who most need it. However, we still have the duty to make sure that this undergoes the process as provided by our guidelines.”

221 beneficiaries from the barangays of San Isidro, Mambago-B, and Peñaplata of IGaCoS will benefit from the livelihood aid of the DSWD-SLP.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program aims to provide access to resources that will improve the productivity of the participants’ already existing livelihood. It is open to every Filipino family especially the poor, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged. (DSWD)

Ushering  in the new year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to celebrate its 68th year anniversary of serving the public from January 21 to 25 with activities highlighting its mandate to help the poor and the vulnerable sectors towards positive change.

On January 3, the DSWD commemorated its founding anniversary with the theme, “DSWD: Katuwang sa Pagbabago (Partners for Change),” emphasizing the importance of serving the public towards positive transformation.

The need to improve and reinvent was emphasized by DSWD Secretary Rolando D. Bautista in his anniversary message to employees “to better serve and alleviate the conditions of the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged members of our society.”

Sec. Bautista added that the DSWD must work towards helping the clients it serves towards positive transformation. 

“We must not let the persons, families, and communities’ difficulties in life get the better of them.  We must make them feel that they are valuable members of society with a capacity to make a contribution,” he said.

The Secretary emphasized that collectively, every single program of  the Department must empower the beneficiaries to achieve their full potential.

Sec. Bautista also thanked the employees for their dedication saying, “Nais ko ring pasalamatan ang DSWD family, lalo na sa suportang ipinagkaloob sa akin kaya mabilis nating naaaksiyunan ang mga bagyo at sakuna (I also thank my DSWD family for the support enabling us to deliver prompt action during disasters).”

For this year’s anniversary, the Secretary enjoined all employees to accept the challenge to render transformative public service.

“I ask everyone to join me in making a resolve this year, 2019, to render public service with a clarity of purpose, accompanied by the grace of honesty, selflessness, compassion and courteousness topped by genuine sincerity of effort and motivated by the deed of transparency and accountability of all the Department’s funds and resources imbued with a sense of nationality,” he said.

Meanwhile, in celebration of its anniversary, the Department will hold a sportsfest including the popular fitness competition, “The Biggest Loser, DSWD Edition”;  employees’ bazaar; ecumenical service; clean-up of Manila Bay; and, simultaneous  bloodletting activity  by the Central Office and some DSWD Field Offices. Other Field offices will hold their bloodletting activities in February during their regional anniversary celebration. 

The celebration  will be capped by a culminating event showcasing the talents of employees in the DSWD Got Talent competition and recognizing staff who have rendered five to 40 years in service through the Loyalty Awards. (DSWD Social Marketing Service)

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte Jan. 7 (PIA) — Mindanao is prone to trafficking, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Luzviminda C. Ilagan said as she raised the need for community information regarding trafficking.

Basing on her experience, Ilagan cited the vulnerability of Mindanao which has now become prone to natural calamities and where poverty incidence is still high.

She said the evacuation sites where places to watch especially when man-made or natural disaster would occur because “these are where trafficking happens”.

Brushing aside literacy as a factor, she noted that even when victims knew the danger, they succumbed due to “pressing needs”.

“Mao ni ang bantayan kay kung naay evacuation center, daghang babae ang ma-traffic. (There is a need to keep an eye on evacuation sites where a number of women have been trafficked),” she said.

“Because of the circumstances kay bisan ug kabalo sila (because even if they know) that something is wrong with illegal recruitment, but because of the need,” she added, explaining that pressing needs usually drive victims to succumb to illegal recruitment leading to trafficking.

Ilagan said families in communities should be made aware of the dangers of trafficking or the transport of people who are being exploited through deceptive promises usually of good jobs.

She also pointed out the need for public information, inter-agency cooperation, strengthening of local trafficking councils which firm up local government policies.

The Undersecretary, however, expected local anti-trafficking councils to be funded by local government units (LGUs) because of some expenses that would be incurred in running the affairs of such council.

“So kinahanglan nga kining nga kampanya mapadayon ug inter-agency all of government jud ang approach. Kay dili pwede nga buhaton sa usa lang ka ahensiya. (it is important to sustain this campaign and this interagency (council) but it has to be all of government approach because one agency cannot do it alone.),” she said.

If not at the town levels, city and provincial level inter-agency council on trafficking would be good enough to pool together agencies of national government to check trafficking of persons.

Meanwhile, DSWD XI Regional Director Mercedita  P. Jabagat saw the crucial role of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC)  in checking incidence of trafficking of children  in communities not just looking into cases of children in conflict with the law (CICL).

DSWD along with other members of the Regional Interagency Council against Trafficking (RIACAT) held observance of International Day Against Trafficking (IDAT) in December in Tagum City with Atty. Rudiger G. Falcis II, executive director of IACAT Department of Justice.

The event bannered the theme, “Karapatan ng Kabataan Pangalagaan, Human Trafficking ay Labanan”.  (PIA XI/Jeanevive Duron Abangan)

DAVAO CITY  – An audit of persons-with-disabilities compliant building and infrastructures is set to be implemented in Davao City.

Melecio Fernandez, focal person on persons-with-disabilities, Department of Social Welfare and Development-XI (DSWD-XI) says this will be the first time an audit will be held and is an initiative of the Regional Council for Disability Affairs (RCDA).

According to Fernandez the audit will show how Batasang Pambansa 344 or the accessibility law is implemented.

“Matagal na yang batas na yan, kasi hanggang ngayon mga iba meron, mga iba wala,” (That law has been around for so long, until today others are following it, others are not) Fernandez said.

The audit which will be conducted on March of 2019 will look into government buildings such as the City Hall, Sangguniang Panglungsod and supermarkets. Roads and sidewalks will also be inspected.

The audit team will be joined by representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the local government unit.

Fernandez noted that some roads and sidewalks particularly pedestrian crossing in the city are not accessible to persons-with-disabilities. The audit will also determine if the buildings which are certified compliant to BP 344 are really following the law. (PIA)

Davao City (DSWD XI) -The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) conducted its first ever SLP Kabuhayan Fair at People’s Park, Palma Gil last December 7, Friday.

The provinces in the region, together with their respective program participants, showcased their products during the fair with the purpose of not only informing the external and internal stakeholders about the program, but to transform them as advocates for the same.

The Kabuhayan Fair featured booths that were made from indigenous materials that represent their respective provinces. The winner for the Best Booth Design was the province of Davao del Norte headed by SLP Provincial Coordinator Dexter M. Lara, and runners-up for the same were the province of Compostela Valley and the cluster of Davao City.

Among the products displayed during the fair were bags weaved from romblon leaves from Davao del Sur, handwoven mats from Davao del Norte, indigenous accessories by the Matigsalug tribe of Davao City, jewelry from Compostela Valley, nito products from Davao Occidental, and some sweetened candies from Davao Oriental. Davao del Norte’s black rice brew with moringa bagged the Most Innovative Product during the fair.

Mr. Romeo Vasquez, Jr. Trade and Industry Development Specialist of DTI XI, Ms. Marian Comilang, Executive Director of the Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation, Inc., and Mr. Rolando Torres, Executive Director of the Mindanao Business Council were also present as keynote speakers during the Kabuhayan Forum in the afternoon.

“Today, we celebrate the successes of our program participants in the SLP. We are grateful that their stories of growth speak volume of the effect of the program to the community that they belong,” Merlinda A. Paragamac, Chief of Promotive Services Division, DSWD, said in her opening remarks.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program aims to provide access to resources that will improve productivity of the participants’ already existing livelihood. It is open to every Filipino family especially the poor, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged. (DSWD)