The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently signed an agreement with four Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for the conduct of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Family Development Sessions (FDS) in the province of Laguna and Batangas. The partnership was formalized through a signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) held at DSWD Field Office IV-A in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The said organizations are the Open Heart Foundation, Inc., God Loves Balete, Hillside Christian Church and Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The latter two will be conducting FDS in the municipality of Rizal, Laguna while the former two will cover Biñan, Laguna and Balete, Batangas respectively.

DSWD IV-A Director Leticia T. Diokno, in her message during the MOA signing, emphasized the importance of FDS for the program-beneficiaries. She said that it is not enough that the families receive cash grants. What is more important is educating them to guide them in improving their well-being especially when the tenure of the program has ended.

The FDS is a component of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program that educates parent-beneficiaries on improving family-related concerns including marital relationships and financial management. With the huge number of program beneficiaries being served currently, the DSWD is continuously tapping CSOs to help in the conduct of these sessions particularly on topics within their respective fields of expertise.

“Our organization believes that the family is the foundation of the society. Our goal is to encourage spiritual and moral growth to the beneficiaries to help them improve their lives in the future,” said Bishop Paulino Villavicencio of Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Dir. Diokno thanked all the CSOs for being one with the agency in helping improve the lives of the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya. Throughout the implementation of the program, the DSWD is eyeing for more partners like these four organizations to achieve the goals of the program.

Aside from the four organizations, other CSO-partners engaged in the conduct of FDS across the CALABARZON Region are Bethsaida CBR Services for the Disabled Inc., United Pastors council of San Pablo City Laguna Inc., iHELP, CBAP – Cavite Ministries, Inc., San Pablo Philippines Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Calamba Pastors Alliance and Polillo Evangelical Ministerial Association.***