All roads led to Ilagan City as the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office II continued with its third string of the Provincial Convergence Caravan held at Gov. Faustino N. Dy Sr. Hall, Provincial Capitol, Province of Isabela on June 16, 2014.
Beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from the neighboring cities and municipalities gathered for the one-day event aimed at giving an opportunity for them to share their testimonies regarding the impacts of the program in their lives.
“Napakalaking pagbabago po ang naidulot ng Pantawid Pamilya sa aking buhay,” started Elena Jacinto, who is also a Parent Leader from Ilagan City.
“Sa tulong ng cash grant, natutugunan ng maayos ang pangangailangan ng aking mga anak sa kalusugan at sa edukasyon. Pero higit pa sa pinansiyal na aspeto, pinalawak ng programa ang aking kaalaman sa tulong ng Family Development Sessions. Nagkaroon din ako ng tiwala sa sarili at mas malalim na pagtanggap sa aking responsibilidad upang mas maging mabuti akong magulang at miyembro ng pamayanan,” she ended.
Partners from the Local Government Units, National Government Agencies, Academe, and Civil Society Organizations also shared their messages regarding their support and role in the implementation of the program in the said province.
Aside from the sharing of testimonials and messages, another highlight of the activity was the showcase of talents among the participating municipalities and cities wherein the beneficiaries flaunt their dancing skills and singing prowess.
Booths displaying the programs and services of the NGAs and the products of the participating localities were also installed around the venue.
In her message, Ms. Maricel Grace Gomez, the Regional Program Coordinator of Pantawid Pamilya highlighted on the importance of convergence among the different sectors in alleviating poverty and improving the well-being of the poor families, especially the beneficiaries of the program.
“Sa’ming mga katuwang mula sa iba’t-ibang sektor, patuloy tayong magbuklud-buklod at magtulung-tulong sa paghahatid ng mahusay, magiliw at matapat na serbisyong publiko, lalo na sa mga higit na nangangailangan, sa mga mahihirap,” Gomez said.
She also encouraged the beneficiaries to continue to work hard and have the will to rise from poverty. “Kayong mga benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya ay magbibigay patunay na sa gitna ng kahirapan, kayang-kaya ng Pinoy tumawid tungo sa kaunlaran!”
The program ended with parlor games wherein winners took home some prizes. The Provincial Government of Isabela through the leadership of Gov. Faustino Dy also gave some family food packs.
The province of Isabela holds the biggest number of Pantawid beneficiaries in the region with a total of 45, 693 households. For region 02, there are a total of 96, 175 beneficiaries.
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 ###By MARICEL B. ASEJO, Information Officer II – Pantawid Pamilya