Beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from Rizal Province call for the continuous implementation of the program even after the change of the administration this coming 2016. Beneficiaries rally for this during the forum conducted by the University of Rizal System (URS) last August 18 in Morong, Rizal.
Beneficiaries who attended the said forum are more than 100 parent leaders from the municipalities of Morong, Cardona, Binangonan, Teresa and Baras.
The URS, through its Office of Extension Services, conducted the said forum to help hear the voice of the beneficiaries regarding their experiences on the different programs and services provided to them by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
According to Dir. Emma Linga, URS Director of Extension Services, this activity will help the DSWD in improving the delivery of its services to the beneficiaries.
“Sa pamamagitan ng forum na ito, makikita rin namin (referring to the university) kung ano ang maitutulong namin sa DSWD lalong lalo na sa mga beneficiaries ng kanilang programa,” said Linga.
During the forum, the beneficiaries voiced out their questions on whether the program will be continued or not after the 2016 National Elections.
DSWD IV-A Pantawid Pamilya Regional Program Coordinator Ronald Castro shared to beneficiaries that it is their voice that can help achieve this, especially in pushing for the institutionalization of the program.
The evidence of ‘change’
Barbara Toribiano, a beneficiary from Brgy. Dalig in Teresa town, shared that beneficiaries like her must do something to ensure that the government continues to help the poor.
“Ipakita natin sa kanila na tayo ay deserving sa tulong ng gobyerno para ipagpatuloy nila ang tulong sa atin. Gamitin natin nang maayos ang tulong na ibinibigay sa atin. Nasa atin ring mga benepisyaryo ang sagot kung itutuloy ito o hindi ng gobyerno,” shared Toribiano.
Beneficiary Emilyn Ganapin from Brgy. Evangelista in Baras town committed to help through being a model beneficiary.
“Palagi po naming naririnig na ginagawa raw tamad ng Pantawid ang mga benepisyaryo. Hindi po. Kami po ang patunay na ‘yung mga dating mga walang pakialam sa komunidad, ngayon ay aktibo nang nakikibahagi sa lahat ng mga gawain,” Ganapin said.
In support to Ganapin, beneficiary Rita Monilla from Teresa shared the change in their community through the help of the program. This includes increased number of children being sent to school, housewives who learned about their rights through the Family Development Sessions and families who dreamed bigger through livelihood opportunities provided by DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program.
“Kami ang patunay na hindi lang kami basta tanggap lang nang tanggap ng tulong. May ginagawa kami para magbago ang aming mga buhay,” said Monilla.#