About 3,000 family-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from Laguna Province joined the thousands of families nationwide who celebrated the Pantawid Pamilya National Family Day 2015 last October 4, 2015. The said activity was conducted simultaneously in all regions in the country.
In the CALABARZON Region, the said activity was conducted in Laguna Sports Complex Gymnasium in Sta. Cruz, Laguna Province.
With the theme “Tuloy ang Pagbabago,” the celebration highlighted the different stories of change of the family-beneficiaries as well as encouraged the beneficiaries to continuously work together towards sustaining the change.
DSWD IV-A Regional Director Leticia T. Diokno, in her message to the families, shared the importance of families in building an improved community.
“Kami sa DSWD ay naniniwala na ang komunidad ay magiging maayos at masagana sa pamamagitan ng mga matatatag na pamilyang katulad ninyo kaya ginagawa ng pamahalaan na maibigay ang iba’t ibang serbisyo at programa katulad ng Pantawid Pamilya para mas masuportahan kayo, lalong lalo na ang mga bata,” Dir. Diokno shared.
Further, Dir. Diokno challenged the family-beneficiaries to make their families as an inspiration to work and improve their lives.
In one of the activities during the celebration, the participants have written their dreams for their respective families and committed to work together to achieve them.
“Marami na ang nagbago, nasimulan n’yo na ang pagbabago. Ipagpatuloy natin ang pagbabago,” Dir. Diokno shared to the participants.
The activity was also graced by Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez and various partner agencies including the Department of Education and Department of Interior and Local Government.
In the afternoon, around 10 local companies have opened booths for a job fair organized by the Public Employment Service Office of Laguna.
Continuous support for the beneficiaries
The Oabel Family of Brgy. Quinale in Paete in the said province shared during the celebration how they were able to achieve change in their lives through the opportunities offered by the program.
Dante Oabel, the head of the family, shared that the Pantawid Pamilya program helped their family, especially their three children.
“Dahil po sa programa, nakatapos na po ang panganay namin ng four-year course at ngayon ay nagtatrabaho na at nakakatulong sa aming pamilya,” shared Oabel.
The Oabel Family is the provincial winner of the 2015 Regional Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya.
During the celebration, the Oabel Family also led the call of the beneficiaries to continuously support the program and the beneficiaries, particularly on ensuring that the program becomes a regular program of the national government.
“Dapat ipagpatuloy ang Pantawid Pamilya dahil nakakatulong ito sa mga batang nag-aaral at may natutunan din ang mga magulang dito,” shared Marites Ojeda, a beneficiary from Brgy. Bubukal in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
Edloraine Salva, another beneficiary from Brgy. Balian in Pangil town, shared that the program should be considered to be a regular program of the government because of the great number of families the program is helping today.
Victoria Oabel shared that their family is one of the proofs that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is helping families, especially in ensuring a good future for the children.
“Kami ay nakikiisa sa petisyon para ipagpatuloy ang Pantawid Pamilya para mas marami pang katulad namin ang matulungan ng programa,” she shared.
During the said event, around 2,000 individuals who are beneficiaries of the program signed the petition to continuously support the program through the institutionalization of the Pantawid Pamilya as a regular program of the national government.#