Exemplary children beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya ran the show for this year’s celebration of Children’s Month with the theme “Bata Kasali ka, Ikaw ay Mahalaga!” held in Tuguegarao City, October 14, 2015.

Different activities were prepared for the festivity namely the Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children 2014, Poster Making Contest and Essay Writing Contest which aimed on recognizing the children’s skills and knowledge.

In the Search, four talented children showcased their singing and dancing prowess, acting skills and their intelligence during the Tagisan ng Talino at Talento wherein Rachel Joyce Tattao from Jones, Isabela was hailed as the region’s most exemplary Pantawid Pamilya child. Meanwhile Maera Cosep from Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya; Ainjel Aycees Juvenal from Aglipay, Quirino and Joan Cammayo from Enrile, Cagayan placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.

For the Poster Making Contest, the masterpiece of Marivic Bacani from Delfin Albano, Isabela landed on the 1st place, followed by Greason Liquigan of Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya; and Mark Galamgam of Mallig, Isabela.

Meanwhile, Cleo Faye Benito, the entry of Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya in the Essay Writing Contest won the top place; John Christopher Suyu of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan for the second place; and Angelika Mandapat of Delfin Albano, Isabela ended at third place.
All the winners received a certificate of recognition and cash prizes.

In her message, DSWD Regional Director Remia T. Tapispisan emphasized on the important role that children play in poverty-alleviation and nation-building.

“Ang tema ng ating pagdiriwang ngayon na ‘Bata kasali ka, Ikaw ay mahalaga!’ ay nagpapatunay na kayong mga kabataan ay may mahalagang bahagi sa pagpapaunlad ng ating komunidad. Kayo ay kasali sa pagpapatibay ng ating pagkakaisa at yan ay makakamit ninyo sa pamamagitan ng pag-aaral ng mabuti at sa pagiging responsableng anak at miyembro ng pamayananan,” Tapispisan said.

Meanwhile, in order to strengthen the children’s knowledge regarding their rights, there were discussions on Children’s Rights and on Anti-Bullying spearheaded by the Commission on Human Rights Regional Office 02 represented by Atty. Cecilia Lazaro, OIC-Regional Director.

There were also AVP presentations on the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children and on the Kaya Ko ang Pagbabago! Campaign. The Kaya Ko ang Pagbabago is an empowerment and information campaign that aims to communicate the stories of change in the lives of the beneficiaries of DSWD’s programs and services, especially the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

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.

For region 02, there are 97, 708 household beneficiaries covered in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.

This year’s celebration was in partnership with other regional lined agencies who comprise the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) namely: Department of Health, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Human Rights. ### By MARICEL B. ASEJO, Information Officer II-Pantawid Pamilya