Aeta families from Batangas Province received health services during the Katutubo Caravan conducted last June 8 in Brgy. Pinagsibaan in Rosario in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) Region IV-A.

The said caravan was organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office IV-A for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program who belong to the indigenous peoples (IP) group in the municipalities of Rosario and San Luis.

Around 200 individuals (parents and children) have received medical checkups, dental services as well as medicines, vitamins and referrals for further medications.

Jorro Dela Cruz, 41, a resident of Brgy. Bagong Tubig in San Luis, is one of the beneficiaries who availed of the medical checkup. He was referred to the Rural Health Unit of San Luis for further medication since he has been dealing with cough for a couple of months already.

Besides him, his three children were provided with vitamins during the activity.

“Maganda po na mayroong ganito (referring to the Katutubo Caravan) hindi lamang dahil nabibigyan kami ng serbisyo kung hindi ay nabibigyan kami ng pagkakataon na makasalamuha ang iba naming mga katribo,” shared Dela Cruz.

Cristina Viegan, Regional Program Coordinator of Pantawid Pamilya in the CALABARZON Region, shared that activities like this are conducted to ensure that the IP-beneficiaries are provided with venues to showcase their culture and receive services from the national and local government.

She reminded the beneficiaries to ensure that their health, especially that of their children, are always taken care of. Viegan also emphasized to the IP-beneficiaries to value their culture, their education and their dreams of having a better life.

 

Changing views on health and education

Monaliza Remo, 42, another beneficiary from Brgy. Putingkahoy in Rosario, shared how the program has helped the Aeta families in terms of valuing their health and education.

A supplier of herbal medicines herself, Remo shared how she and other parents in the community have continuously submit their children for health checkups since the start of the Pantawid Pamilya program.

“Noong una, hindi talaga mapilit ang mga nanay dala na rin marahil sa wala kami madalas sa aming mga bahay. Ang mga Aeta kasi, kung saan-saan pumupunta para maghanap ng pagkakakitaan,” she shared.

Monaliza shared that eventually, the mothers have prioritized their children’s health together with their education.

As part of the co-responsibilities with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, beneficiaries are required to follow certain conditions on health including the monthly health checkup of children, 85 percent monthly school attendance of children and monthly attendance to Family Development Sessions of parents.

To date, around 2,000 household-beneficiaries in the CALABARZON Region belong to IP groups (both for the regular and modified Conditional Cash Transfer schemes).#