Cabinet Secretaries of the present administration emphasized that the government and the people must work together to improve the lives of the poor. This was during the Daang Matuwid Caravan held last July 21 in Club Manila East, Taytay in Rizal Province.

Among those present in the activity were Sec. Corazon Juliano-Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Sec. Florencio Abad of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Bro. Armin Luistro of the Department of Education (DepEd), Sec. Janette Loreto-Garin of the Department of Health (DOH) and Sec. Ramon Jimenez of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The said caravan was also attended by at least 200 people including beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, teachers, health workers, civil society organizations and other beneficiaries of various social protection programs of the national government such as PhilHealth and Bottom-Up Budgeting.

According to Sec. Abad, the Daang Matuwid Caravan is a venue for the national government to hear the views of the people regarding different programs and services offered to them not only to see their impact but as well as to determine opportunities to improve these services.

Thankful for the programs and services

The participants in the caravan shared their gratitude towards the different programs and services being implemented today, especially how these help them in improving their lives.

According to Analiza Ampatin, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary from Taytay, the program gave them opportunities to change their lives.

“Dahil sa Pantawid Pamilya, nagkaroon ng kasiguruhan na ang edukasyon at kalusugan ng aming mga anak ay natutugunan. Napatunayan naming hindi hadlang ang kahirapan para matulungan namin ang aming mga pamilya na magbago ang buhay,” Ampatin shared.

Soledad Agpoon, another Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary from Cainta, shared that more than the cash grants provided by the program, they thank the lessons the program teaches them through their monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).

The FDS is a component of the Pantawid Pamilya program and is one of the co-responsibilities of beneficiaries to the program. This session teaches parent grantees on various topics including strengthening marital relationship, gender equality, budget management and disaster preparedness among others.

“Sa FDS, binibigyan kami ng sapat na kaalaman para maayos naming magabayan ang aming mga pamilya,” Agpoon said.

She added that without acceptance and application of the learning from the FDS, the program will be of little help.

“Ang tulong pinansyal at ang dagdag kaalaman ay ang mga tamang sangkap para umunlad ang mga mahihirap,” Agpoon shared.

Other participants also acknowledge the help provided by PhilHealth, Bottom-up Budgeting and K-12 program.

Sustaining the change

The Secretaries were glad to hear about the impact of the government programs to the beneficiaries but noted that they must also help to continue such change.

“Ang mga mamamayan at ang pamahalaan ay dapat matapat na kumikilos tungo sa solusyon sa kahirapan. Magkatuwang tayo sa pagbabago,” Sec. Soliman shared.

Sec. Soliman also encouraged the beneficiaries to share their stories of change to the public.

“Kayo ang testigo na may mga pagbabago sa buhay n’yo. Kayo ang garantiya na may pagbabago kaya mahalaga na binabahagi n’yo ang mga pagbabagong ito,” she shared.

Sec. Jimenez also emphasized the importance of the help of the people in ensuring that these changes in their lives will be sustained.

“Ang pagpapatuloy ng daang matuwid ay ang pagpapatuloy ng inyong istorya,” Sec. Jimenez shared.#