All roads led to People’s Gymnasium, Tuguegarao City in Cagayan as around 5, 000 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and partners from the different sectors gathered for the Pantawid Pamilya National Family Day and Convergence Caravan on September 28, 2014.
Pantawid beneficiaries from the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva together with the different partners from the Local Government Units, National Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Academe and the Media flocked for this festivity which highlighted on the positive changes that happen in the lives of family beneficiaries of DSWD’s programs and services, especially the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
In her message, DSWD Regional Director Remia T. Tapispisan emphasized on the dedicated commitment of the department in uplifting the lives of the vulnerable and disadvantaged Filipino families. She also encouraged the beneficiaries to embrace their positive transformation for their own welfare especially their children.
This year’s winner for the regional search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya was also awarded during the event. The family of Ynes Gadingan, a Pantawid beneficiary from the municipality of Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya was hailed as the model Pantawid family beneficiary. They received a certificate of recognition and cash prize worth P7, 000. 00
The highlight of the 3-hour activity was the sharing of testimonies regarding the impacts of Pantawid Pamilya.
“Simula ng naging benepisyaryo ako ng Pantawid Pamilya, marami ng nabago sa aking buhay,” Aling Josibel Sibal, a Pantawid beneficiary from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan started. “Sa aming pagtanggap ng cash grant, nagkaroon kami ng katuwang para matustusan ang pag-aaral ng aking mga anak at masiguro na sila ay malusog,” she continued.
But greater than the program’s help in financial aspect, the Pantawid Pamilya has contributed more to the development of her knowledge and character. “Nung ako ay naging isang Parent Leader, lahat ng aking kaalaman at kakayahan bilang isang indibidwal ay ginamit ko. Dahil sa kakayahang ito, natutulungan ko ang kapwa ko benepisyaryo na matutong tumayo sa sarili nilang mga paa at magkaroon ng tiwala sa sarili,” she shared.
The Pantawid Pamilya is the Philippine’s version of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT). It is a human development program of the national government being implemented by DSWD that invests in the health and education of children aged 0-18. It utilizes the CCT scheme where the beneficiaries receive cash grant provided that they send their children to school, get preventive health check-up, and the parents attend the monthly Family Development Session (FDS).
As of now, there are a total of 97, 126 households beneficiaries of the program in the region.### By MARICEL B. ASEJO, Information Officer II-Pantawid Pamilya