Lanao del Norte — “A Person With Disability should never allow her physical condition to be a hindrance to volunteer,” says 52-year- old Julieta M. Yorong of Kolambugan, this province, who believes that there is still hope in community development.

Julieta is an active member of an association for persons with disabilities (PWD) in Lanao del Norte and has been a community volunteer in Barangay San Roque since 1994. Religious and dedicated, she believes in the power of optimism which to her can surpass poverty in their barangay.

Last 2013, Julieta volunteered to assist in the implementation of Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP) in their community. KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP is a flagship anti-poverty program of the national government that empowers communities to be involved in development through community-driven development approach (CDD).

Being a natural leader, she finds it easy to influence her neighbors to volunteer for the Program. “It could be because they already know me, my principles and my capabilities,” she says.
“Wala jud mi nag makuli ug nag duha-duha sa iyang kapasidad isip lider bisan siya isa ka bakol (We never doubted her capabilities despite her being a hunchback),” according to one of the volunteers who work closely with Juileta.

A cheerful model

Her persistence, concern, sincerity and commitment to lead the volunteers encourage other volunteers to do more positive things that will help them uplift their economic condition. She makes herself as an example to everyone in the community.

Julieta’s cheerful personality brings brightness and hope to their community; she always demonstrates smile while working, even though they meet several
problems in the implementation of the project.” Sa among pagtan-aw kang Julieta nga ga lihok siya sa iyang trabaho, nadasig mi sa pagtrabaho usab kay nakita namo nga kaya niya bisan bakol siya, kami pa hinuon. (Seeing how Julieta does her work, we became more enthusiastic in volunteering because we feel that if a person with disability/hunchback can do it, why can’t we?)”, Rosalie, one of the volunteers, says.

Confidence in the government

KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP through the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach has strengthened and enhanced her knowledge in poverty alleviation effort of the government. “Daghan ko ug nakat-unan sa dihang nagtrabaho ako sa KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP. Napalig-on ug napadako pa nako akong hibalo mahitungod sa programa sa gobyerno sa pag pak-gang sa kawad-on ug kalisod,” (KC-NCDDP has deepened my knowledge on how the government addresses poverty alleviation,” Julieta says.

Touching people’s lives

With her dedication and transparency in community development programs, she became one of the Philippine delegates in Africa (2002) and in Netherlands (2008) through the PASAKA (Panaghugpong sa mga mag-uuma ug Kabus sa Kabanikahan alang sa Kausaban) program funded by South Africa and Netherlands Government.

“Wala ko magdahum nga sa isip usa ka PWD, makapatandog ako sa kinabuhi sa mga tawo, apil usab sa uban pang mga PWDs nga sila usab makatabang sa uban (I never thought that I, being person with disability, could somehow touch a lot of people’s lives and inspire other PWDs that they too can help),” Julieta shares. “Kahit may kapansanan tayo, kaya parin natin ang pagbabago.”

Written by: Luis T. Arquiza, DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) organized the first-ever Gawad Listahanan or the Data Utilization Awards to confer awards to Local Government Units (LGU) for providing services and assistance to the Listahanan-identified poor families.

The activity aims to promote the convergence of all social protection stakeholders on the identified poor to effectively address the different aspects of poverty.

After the conduct of validation and deliberation ,the city of El Salvador from the province of Misamis Oriental was chosen as one of the final nominees of the Gawad Listahanan Awards.
LGUs who were nominated to the competition were those who have followed a set of minimum standards which includes:(1) having an active Memorandum of Agreement with the DSWD on Listahanan data sharing, (2) must have identified and funded a locally-funded program for the Listahanan- identified poor,(3) must be compliant in submitting feedback reports to the Department relative to their utilization of the Listahanan data and (4) must have passed a Sanggunian Bayan/Panglungsod resolution or ordinance in support to their utilization of the Listahanan data.

Nominess were classified into three categories: Municipal,City, and Provincial Government.

In Northern Mindanao, based on the submitted requirements, only the Local Government Units of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte (municipal category) and El Salvador City (City category) made it to the national nominations of which,only the city of El Salvador was qualified for final validation.

Winners of the said award will be recognized early next year in time for the Listahanan Summit .

The NHTS-PR or Listahanan is an information management system that the government uses in identifying who and where the poor are and is being spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It aims to address poverty reduction through a scientific and target- focused strategy.

Written by, Mitzie S. Santiago, DSWD

Northern Mindanao – Systems for the disaster operation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development are now set for the coming of Typhoon Ruby.
A Quick Response Team at the DSWD Field Office X in Cagayan de Oro City is now ready to be deployed to provide assistance to families should they need it.
30,000 family food packs are also prepositioned at the Field Office, while P1,000,000.00 standby fund is now in place for disaster operations.
While the local government units serve as the direct providers of assistance during disaster operations, the DSWD is mandated to extend augmentation to the local government units when requested by their chief executives.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Northern Mindanao, which is composed of the provinces of Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, and Bukidnon, was identified as one of the critical areas under level C – an alert level for areas having a rainfall of 10-20 millmeters/hour, or heavy to intense rains and winds of 100-70 kilometers per hour.
The impact of this alert level, according to PAGASA, include heavy damage to agricultural; some large trees uprooted; moderate to heavy disruption of electrical power and communication services; and travel by land, sea and air is dangerous.
Written by Charmaine P. Tadlas, DSWD