More than 300 partners of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from three provinces in the CALABARZON Region showed their commitment towards continuously helping improve the lives of the beneficiaries. This is during the Partnership Forum conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office IV-A in Sta. Cruz, Laguna last January 21; Antipolo City, Rizal last January 22, and; Trece Martires City, Cavite last January 25.

The said forum was participated in by program partners including selected Pantawid Pamilya parent leaders, civil society organizations, local government units, academe and national government agencies in their respective provinces.

According to Dir. Annie E. Mendoza, Assistant Regional Director for Operations of the DSWD Field Office IV-A, the Partnership Forum is being conducted by the agency to see the gains of the Pantawid Pamilya as expressed by the partners.

“This is the time that we hear from you how the program is affecting the lives of the clients we are serving. This is a good venue to highlight the gains of the program and find solutions towards building a strengthened partnership among us to ensure these gains are sustained,” shared Dir. Mendoza to the participants in the forum.

The Pantawid Pamilya program is a human capital development program of the national government that supports the needs on health, nutrition and education of children age zero to 18 belonging to qualified poor families through the provision of cash grants in exchange for their compliance to various program conditions.

Proud of the gains

Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries and partners alike showed pride on how the program has helped poor families in their communities, particularly on areas like education and health of children, strong family relationships, livelihood, and community participation.

According to Cristina Gonio, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary from Baras in Rizal Province, the program has given a lot of opportunities for poor children to get a good education.

“Napakalaki ng tsansa na makatapos ang mga bata ngayon dahil binibigay na sa amin ang lahat ng oportunidad ng pamahalaan at ng iba’t ibang organisasyon. Nasa magulang na lang talaga kung gagabayan nila nang tama at gagamitin nang maayos ang mga oportunidad na ito,” Gonio said.

Laguna Provincial Health Officer Rene Bagamasbad shared that the local government is continuously providing health services to the poor. However, he challenged the beneficiaries that ensuring good health among them is a stake from both the health sector and the beneficiaries themselves.

Further, all the partners who attended in the forum were positive on the help of the Family Development Sessions (FDS) to the lives of the beneficiaries.

The FDS is a component of the Pantawid Pamilya program that teaches various topics to parent-grantees on strengthening marital relationships, responsible parenthood, disaster preparedness, budget management, rights of children and women among others.

“Napakalaking blessing para sa amin ang mapabilang dito sa Pantawid. Marami kaming natutunan na aming magagamit para iangat ang aming pamumuhay at di na kami aasa pa sa tulong ng gobyerno. Sa pamamagitan ng aming tagumpay, darating ang panahon na kami naman ang tutulong sa iba,” shared Marilou Banta of Bacoor City, Cavite Province.

The beneficiaries also highlighted the number of opportunities provided to them including other programs from the DSWD such as Sustainable Livelihood Program, Kalahi-CIDSS and Supplementary Feeding Program and other programs from the local government and private organizations such as scholarship, livelihood training, health insurance and capital assistance among others.

Committed towards sustaining the gains

Dir. Mendoza shared to the partners that the agency is proud to see the gains of the program through the personal experiences of the beneficiaries as well as the partner-agencies and organizations helping the DSWD in the implementation of the program.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa mga partners dahil napakalaking bagay ang ginagampanan ninyo sa pagkamit ng pagbabago ng mga benepisyaryo. Sana ay higit nating paigtingin ang ating samahan at pagtutulungan para maiangat ang buhay ng lahat ng pamilyang ating tinutulungan,” Dir. Mendoza said.

The civil society organization partners commit to continuously serve the beneficiaries, particularly in the conduct of the monthly FDS.

“Bilang kabahagi ng programa, patuloy kaming magkakapit-bisig upang ang bawat pamilya ay magkaroon ng tibay at magtagumpay,” shared Emerjason Grepo, civil society organization partner from CBAP Cavite Ministries, Inc.

The CBAP Cavite Ministries, Inc. is one of the active civil society partners of the DSWD IV-A in the implementation of the program.

Meanwhile, the beneficiaries commit towards using what they learned from the program to continuously improve their living condition.

“Marami nang mga benepisyaryo ang nahikayat maghanapbuhay at gumawa ng paraan para tumayo sa sarili naming mga paa. Ipagpapatuloy namin ang aming nasimulan para kayang-kaya na naming tumawid patungo sa kaunlaran,” shared Nelia Pangilinan, a Pantawid beneficiary from Naic, Cavite Province.

Further, the beneficiaries and partners together called for the institutionalization of the program to ensure that the gains of the program will be sustained and that more poor families will be given opportunities to change their lives.

“Kaming lahat ay patuloy na magsisikap at magiging determinado para makaalis kami sa kahirapan,” said Avelina Alegre, a Pantawid beneficiary from Rodriguez, Rizal Province.#