Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman acknowledged the efforts and determination of the child-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program during the recently conducted National Children’s Congress (NCC) in San Juan City, Metro Manila in celebration of the National Children’s Month.
The NCC is an annual activity of the DSWD, in partnership with the Council for the Welfare of Children, that promotes the rights and welfare of children.
With the theme “Batang Pilipino, tuloy ang pagbabago,” the activity gathered about 70 exemplary Pantawid Pamilya children across the country. Of the said number, three are representatives from the CALABARZON Region.
“I feel very proud at kami’y tuwang tuwa sa inyo na lahat kayo ay nagdesisyon na hindi n’yo tatanggapin ang inyong kalagayan. Bawat isa sa inyo ay tumayo at ginawa ang nararapat bilang bata para makamit ang pagbabago,” Sec. Soliman shared to the children.
She added that in behalf of all the people working behind the program, including the teachers, health workers and civil society organizations, the DSWD takes pride of the changes in the lives of the beneficiaries, especially the children’s commitment towards achieving such change.
Children have roles, too
According to Roger Renz Almazan, 14, a participant in the NCC from Alitagtag town in Batangas, this activity opened his eyes as a child.
“Natutunan ko rito na pahalagahan ang sarili ko, na kahit ang isang batang katulad ko ay may silbi sa mundo. Kahit pala kami ay mahirap lamang, may makikinig at may magmamahal sa akin at may magagawa kami para sa pagbabago,” Almazan said.
Eloisa Monique Quines, 14, another participant from Trece Martires City in Cavite Province, shared the importance of giving children like her the opportunity to see their roles and value in the society.
“Sa pagkilala sa aming mga bata, doon nagsisimula ang pag-angat ng bawat isa, ng komunidad at ng buong bansa,” she said.
Further, Zaira Villenas, 15, a child-beneficiary of the program from Sampaloc in Quezon Province, shared that children must be honed into better individuals, especially in developing their self-esteem.
“Kahit na sino ka, hindi ka dapat mahiya. Tayong lahat ay pantay-pantay. Pahalagahan natin ang bawat isa dahil kahit na mahirap tayo, hindi tayo dapat nawawalan ng pag-asa dahil makakaahon din tayo at makakamtan natin ang pagbabago sa ating pagsisikap,” added Villenas.
During the NCC, various activities were conducted including workshops and games, which highlighted the children’s roles in improving their respective families and communities.
‘Ituloy ang pagbabago’
In the NCC, the children portrayed how the Pantawid Pamilya program has been helping their respective families, particularly in giving them opportunities to dream and achieve them.
With a common call, the participants appeal for the continuous support of the government to children like them.
“Sana po ay ipagpatuloy ang Pantawid Pamilya dahil marami itong pamilyang natutulungan. Importante ito para sa mga katulad ko dahil natutulungan kami nito na abutin ang aming mga pangarap,” said Almazan.
Villenas, on the other hand, shared that the program has already helped a lot of families, especially children like her.
“Ang pagpapatuloy po ng programa ay nangangahulugan na mas mapapalakas pa natin ang mga pagbabago sa buhay ng mga katulad ko. Mas marami pang mga pamilya ang magiging matatag at mas marami pang mga bata ang mahuhubog pa ang kaalaman at talento,” shared Villenas.
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a human development program of the national government that supports the health, nutrition and education of children age zero to 18. It provides cash grants to qualified poor families in exchange to their compliance with set program conditions including 85% monthly school attendance of children, monthly preventive health checkups and monthly attendance to Family Development Sessions among others.
To date, there are about 4.4 Million household-beneficiaries of the program nationwide, around 320,000 are in the CALABARZON Region.#