Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman encouraged parent leaders of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to help the agency in ensuring proper implementation of the program. This is amidst negative issues in the media, specifically regarding dole-outs and misuse of cash grants.

Sec. Soliman stressed this to parent leaders during her dialogue with more than 150 parent leaders in Southern Luzon State University in Lucban, Quezon Province last August 7, 2015. Parent leaders who joined the dialogue are from Lucban, Tayabas, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Lucena City, Tayabas City, Mauban and Sariaya in the said province.

According to the Secretary, the parent leaders are partners of the DSWD and the government in ensuring that the cash grants received by all beneficiaries are used appropriately.

“Kayo ay aming kasama sa pagsisiguro na napupunta talaga sa pag-aaral at kalusugan ng mga bata ang perang natatanggap ng mga benepisyaryo mula sa Pantawid Pamilya,” shared Sec. Soliman to the beneficiaries while highlighting the issues of misuse of cash grants, pawning of cash cards and beneficiaries engaging in vices such as gambling.

Further, Sec. Soliman challenged the beneficiaries to prove that the program is not a dole-out.

“Alam naming nagsisikap kayo para baguhin ang inyong buhay at hindi naman kayo umaasa lang mula sa programa,” she shared.

Support for the program

Judy Alcoreza, a parent leader from Agdangan, encouraged co-parent leaders to be good models to their members.

“Kung tayo ay magiging isang mabuting ehemplo at makikialam tayo na mas maitaas ang pangalan ng programa, walang magiging kritiko,” said Alcoreza.

Parent leader Jessie Bardaan of Padre Burgos shared that beneficiaries like them can be a big help for the program.

“Malaki ang aming magagawa para magtuloy-tuloy ang programa. Ipagpapatuloy namin ang pagsunod sa aming mga tungkulin at magsusumikap kami at hindi aasa sa programa para mabago ang aming buhay,” shared Bardaan.

Commitment to change their lives

Sec. Soliman also encouraged the beneficiaries to work harder to improve their lives.

“Kayo at ang pamahalaan ay magkatuwang para makamit ang pagbabago sa buhay n’yo,” shared Sec. Soliman.

Vina Lunar, a parent leader from Lucban, shared that she’ll use what the program teaches her through Family Development Sessions and livelihood trainings to improve their lives.

“Dahil sa Pantawid, nakaipon kami para maging konkreto ang bahay namin. Ngayon, kahit may bagyo, hindi na kami mag-aaalala na mababagsakan kami ng aming bubong. Mayroon na kaming ligtas na tahanan para sa aming pamilya,” Lunar shared.

Lunar added that as her way of giving back to the opportunities provided to her by the program, she’ll use the cash grants wisely and share her learning to others, even to non-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya.

Sec. Soliman also shared how glad she is to hear the stories of change of beneficiaries.

“Nakikita namin sa mga k’wento n’yo na may nagbago sa buhay n’yo at may epekto sa inyo ang programa. Nakikita namin na kayo ay nagsisikap para baguhin ang buhay n’yo,” Sec. Soliman said.#