With the aim to develop pool of advocates from its beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field office II conducted two batches of Skills Enhancement Training of Parent Leaders (PL) as Program Advocates.

Thirty-nine PLs from the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela attended the first batch of training held at Jotay Resort, Sta. Ana, Cagayan on July 23-25, 2014 while another 36 PLs from the provinces of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya for the second set held at Highlander Hotel, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya on July 28-30,2014.

The three-day training was filled with modules and exercises about Leadership and Effective Communication. These topics aimed on equipping the PLs with necessary skills to further perform their duties and responsibilities as leaders and to be partners of DSWD in advocating the program in their respective municipalities and cities.

Some of the duties of the PLs include spearheading the conduct of monthly meeting with members and relaying of announcements and updates about the program.

The PLs are given tips on how to be co-promoters of Pantawid Pamilya to showcase the program’s impacts not just in the lives of the beneficiaries but in the community as well, and to further intensify support from the legislators and other stakeholders.

There were also mock radio and TV interviews wherein the leader beneficiaries displayed their communication skills and their deep knowledge about Pantawid Pamilya.

PANTAWID DOES NOT BREED DEPENDENCY

In one of the mock radio interviews, the PLs strongly negated the misconception that that Pantawid Pamilya encourages indolence.

Mrs. Evangeline Urata, a beneficiary and a PL from Buguey, Cagayan said that the program boosted her will and determination to have a more sustainable well-being.

“Napakalaking tulong ng ‘cash grant’ na aming nakukuha para pantustos sa pangangailangan ng aking mga anak. Dahil sa tulong na ito, lalo kaming nagsisikap na mag-asawa na maitaguyod ang aming pamilya,” said Mrs. Urata.

“Higit pa rito, mas naging responsible kaming mga magulang lalo na bilang miyembro ng aming barangay,” she added.

The beneficiaries also expressed their gratitude to the DSWD and to the government for implementing programs that cater to the welfare of the vulnerable and poor Filipino Families.

Pantawid Pamilya is a human development and rights-based program of the national government and is being implemented by DSWD. The program invests in the health and education of poor Filipino children aged 0-18 years old by providing cash grants in exchange of compliance to certain conditionalities.

It is currently implemented in the 4 cities and 83 municipalities in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya. As of now, there is a total of 97, 419 household beneficiaries in the region. ###By MARICEL B. ASEJO, Pantawid Information Officer II