At least 150 beneficiaries of the different programs and services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from various municipalities in Batangas Province share their program experiences with the Area-Based Standard Network (ABSNET) of the said province. This is a through a consultation led by the said organization on the impact and challenges of the different programs and services of the DSWD.

Dubbed as Ala Eh…Sinsay Muna..Makipaglipon at Ulinigin ang Boses ng Masa, the forum was conducted last March 24 in St. Bridget College, Batangas City. Majority of the participants to the said forum are parent leader-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from the cities of Batangas, Lipa and Tanauan and municipalities of Rosario, San Jose, Ibaan, Taal and Calatagan.

“Napakahalaga ng ganitong pagtitipon para makuha namin ang mga totoong saloobin ng mga benepisyaryo tungkol sa mga programa at serbisyong natatanggap nila mula sa DSWD. Dito makikita kung ano ang naging tulong sa kanila ng programa, ano ang mga nagiging problema at ano ang maimumungkahi nila para mas mapaunlad natin ang mga programa,” shared Mr. Joselito Rodriguez, chairperson of ABSNET Batangas Cluster.

The participants highlighted their gratitude towards the different DSWD programs including Pantawid Pamilya, Supplementary Feeding Program and Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens among others.

Bivelyn Manalo, a Pantawid beneficiary and participant in the forum, shared that the program helped them not only with the health and educational needs of their children.

“Napalawak ng programa ang aming kaalaman sa pamamagitan ng Family Development Sessions. Natuto rin kaming makisama sa iba at sa pagiging parent leader namin, nakakatulong rin kami sa kapwa namin. Naiwasan na rin ang mga bisyo katulad ng pagsusugal sa aming komunidad,” Manalo added.

Through the workshops facilitated by the ABSNET, the parent leaders also raised several concerns such as the continuity of the program after the change in administration, replacement of child-beneficiaries and cash grant issues, e.g. duplicate entries and retroactive payments.

All these concerns have been forwarded by the group to the DSWD through the Batangas Provincial Operations Office.

The DSWD acknowledges the support of partner civil society organizations (CSOs) like the ABSNET in the implementation of its different programs and services. Forums like this are venues for giving voice to the beneficiaries and helping the agency in improving service delivery.

Last February 2015, the People Power Volunteers for Reform (PPVR) – Cavite, another CSO-partner of the DSWD, has conducted the same kind of forum with beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya program from Cavite Province.***