A NEW CHALLENGE. DSWD Sec. Corazon Juliano-Soliman challenges Batangas Province Pantawid Pamilya high school graduates and their parents to further invest on the skills of the children through enrolling in college or undergoing technical-vocational skills training during the Pagdiriwang para sa Pantawid Pamilya Graduates ng 2015 held last May 27 in Batangas City Sports Center-Coliseum.
Last March 2015, about 8,000 child-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Batangas Province graduated from high school. They are among the first batch of high school graduates supported by the program after its expansion in 2014.
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DSWD, PARTNERS RECOGNIZE PANTAWID HS GRADUATES IN BATANGAS
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Provincial Government of Batangas, together with partner agencies and local government units, gave recognition to the 7,983 high school graduates who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
These beneficiaries are the first batch of high school graduates supported by the Pantawid Pamilya program after its expansion in 2014.
From supporting children up to 14 years old since 2008, the DSWD expanded its coverage for children up to 18 years old or until they finish high school, whichever comes first. This expansion ensures that child-beneficiaries are equipped with a high school diploma and enable them to get better opportunities, e.g. pursuing college education, enlisting in technical vocational skills training or getting higher income jobs.
Dubbed as Pagdiriwang para sa Pantawid Pamilya Graduates ng 2015, the activity was held last May 27 in Batangas City Sports Center-Coliseum, Batangas City.
According to Sec. Corazon Juliano-Soliman, the graduation of these beneficiaries is worth-celebrating as this is a proof that every child can help improve their lives.
“Lahat kayo ay may kakayahang baguhin ang inyong mga sarili kung maniniwala kayo sa inyong mga kakayahan at makikipagtulungan kayo sa pamahalaan,” said Sec. Soliman in her message to the graduates.
Partnership for better opportunities
Sec. Soliman also emphasized, especially to the parents of the graduates, that they have a responsibility towards ensuring the success of these children.
“Magka-partner tayo sa pag-abot ng tagumpay ng mga batang ito. Hindi mangyayari ang tagumpay kung hindi n’yo gagampanan ang inyong responsibilidad,” Sec. Soliman added.
Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, who is the guest of honor during the activity and a partner of the DSWD in the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya program, also emphasized the importance of the partnership not just of the national and local government but as well as the beneficiaries, especially the parents.
“Ginagawa ng gobyerno, national at lokal, na bigyan kayo ng mga programang makakatulong sa inyo. But, you have to do your share, too. Kasunod nito ay ang inyong mga responsibilidad,” Gov. Recto shared.
She also thanked the DSWD for the various programs and services provided to the Batangeños.
“Sana tuloy-tuloy na magtulungan ang national at lokal na pamahalaaan, at magtuloy-tuloy pa ang Pantawid Pamilya,” Gov. Recto added.
To date, the Pantawid Pamilya program is serving 89,625 poor families in Batangas Province.
Commitment to change their lives
Shaira Perez, 16, a Pantawid high school graduate from Brgy. Laiya Aplaya in San Juan, shared that their high school graduation is a big accomplishment for children like them who have experienced financial struggles.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa Pantawid Pamilya dahil sa suporta sa mga batang katulad namin. Napakalaking tulong po nito para sa aming pag-aaral lalong lalo na sa pagsisiguro na kumpleto ang aming mga gamit sa school,” Perez shared.
Perez is the second of three siblings; their eldest has cerebral palsy. According to her, the income of her parents as part-time resort servers is insufficient for their family, particularly in ensuring that her sick sister never misses a dose of her medicines.
Despite this, Perez graduated as valedictorian last March. She is now enrolled in the University of the Philippines Los Baños and will take up BS Applied Mathematics.
“Sana, lahat ng bata rito ay patuloy na magsikap para abutin ang ating mga pangarap. ‘Wag nating gawing balakid ang kahirapan, gawin natin itong inspirasyon para mabago na ang ating mga buhay,” she shared during her message to her fellow graduates.
Sec. Soliman cited Perez and Jose Marcelo Dimaandal, another graduate from Taal town, as good examples to the rest of the graduates.
Dimaandal, 16, graduated as 1st Honorable Mention and is now enrolled in Technological University of the Philippines in Cuenca, Batangas. He’ll take up BS Industrial Education major in Electronics.
Sec. Soliman encouraged the beneficiaries to enroll in college or undergo technical-vocational skills training with the help of other partner agencies like Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, local government units and other private organizations.
“Hindi kayo iiwanan ng gobyerno at ng lahat ng ating mga partners. Sasabayan namin kayo para tuloy-tuloy na umangat kayo at para ang kahirapan ay maging isang nakaraan na lamang. Ang tagumpay n’yo ay hindi lang tagumpay ng inyong mga pamilya, kundi tagumpay nating lahat,” Sec. Soliman said.***