Community volunteers from the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, and Bukidnon represent the region in the 3rd National Community Volunteers’ Congress in Butuan City in the Caraga Region, August 13.

The Northern Mindanao delegation comprised of nine community volunteers, representing their respective Barangay Sub-Project Management Committees (BSPMC), from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP).

Mary Ann Patalinghog representing the community of Barangay Kilangit, Gitagum, Misamis Oriental; Suzette Mosende of Barangay Taparak, Alubijid, Misamis Oriental; and Mariela Galendez of Barangay San Jose, Medina, Misamis Oriental are awarded in the Improved Local Governance category.

“dako kayo ang akong kalipay nga kami nga taga-Taparak nahimong usa sa mga awardee sa Bayani Ka Awards, dili namo ni makab-ot nga pasidungog kung wala ang suporta sa among lokal nga pangagamhanan, sa DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS na staff, barangay officials ug kauban namong mga boluntaryo (I am very happy that we from Taparak are recipients of this Bayani Ka Award, we could not have achieved this recognition if not for the support of our local government, the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS staff, barangay officials and our fellow volunteers)” says Suzette.

Suzette also says “kini nga award maoy makadugang sa among kadasig sa pag-amping ug pagatiman sa among mga proyekto gikan sa DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS ug sa ubang ahensya sa gobyerno (this award gives us more enthusiasm in taking care and monitoring our projects from DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS and other government agencies).” 

Florentino Amores representing the community of Barangay Aromahon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental is awarded in the Elderly category which recognizes communities who value the elderly sector with equal opportunities. Florentino is 63 years old, and a pastor.

“Nagpasalamat ako sa Ginoo sa mga kaayuhan ug kalamboan nga nahatag sa DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS sa among barangay, nga sa kadugay sa panahon kami nangandoy og proyekto nga makahatag og tingusbawan sa among barangay ug sa mga lumulupyo niini, ug karon natubag na gyud (I thank God for all the blessings and progress the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS brought to our barangay, for the longest time we have clamored for projects that would give prosperity to our barangay and the residents, now it is answered)” Florentino said.

Barangay Aromahon in Laguindingan is recipient to four community sub-projects through DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS. These are: Day Care Center, 1 unit school building with two classrooms, concreting of 0.350 kilometer farm-to-market road, and a continuation of the 0.300 kilometer farm-to-market road. These community sub-projects span from 2015 to 2019 implementation of the program.

Mohammad Shiek Pandapatan representing the community of Barangay Pacalundo, Baloi, Lanao del Norte is awarded in the Sustained Community Volunteers’ Group. Mohammad is also now part of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament under the Office of the Member of the Parliament Said Shiek as a Chief of Staff (EA VI). Mohammad volunteered and was selected as the BSPMC chairperson of Pacalundo from 2015 – 2018.

Mohammad encourages everyone to boost the call for CDD institutionalization “Suportahan po natin ang institusyonalisasyon ng Community-Driven Development approach ng DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS. Suportahan po natin ang pagsasabatas nito, malaki at maliliit po na problema sa ating mga kumunidad ay nasolusyonan na ng CDD approach  (let us support the institutionalization of the Community-Driven Development approach of the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS. Let us support making it into a law, big and small problems of our communities have been given solutions using the CDD approach of the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS).”

Arlene Misiona of Barangay Lower Sagadan, Baroy, Lanao del Norte; and Josephine Oracion of Barangay Maribojoc, Tudela, Misamis Occidental represent their communities and are awarded in the Gender and Development category.  

Roger Mutia representing the community of Barangay Ospital, Aloran, Misamis Occidental is awarded in the Environmental Protection category. The Labo creek, which stretches out to the Aloran River overflows and endangers the lives of the community members – despite not being prioritized for two cycle implementations, the community never lost hope of their dream. The community sub-project of the Barangay Ospital is the Construction of 40 Linear Meter Flood Control Structure is now completed which is funded through the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS amounting to P1,350,572.00 with P116,00.00 local counterpart from the barangay development fund of Ospital. Roger Mutia was recently elected as a Barangay Councilor and holds the committee chairmanship of environment and infrastructure.

Joselito Tumanod representing the community of Barangay New Eden, Pangantucan, Bukidnon is awarded in the Indigenous Peoples’ Welfare category.

Oracion, Galendez, and Tumanod were also recently elected as barangay councilors in their respective communities.

The Bayani Ka Awards and National Community Volunteers Congress is an activity that recognizes the efforts and valuable contributions of community volunteers who have been implementing sub-projects through the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.

The activity is an annual event of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS to celebrate the success of community-driven development which is implemented across 827 municipalities nationwide.

This year’s theme is “Padayon, Kalahi-CIDSS!,” which boosts the clamor to institutionalize the CDD strategy in DSWD programs and in the local development process of municipalities.

The event was participated by more than 250 community volunteers, local chief executives, and barangay officials from 14 regions nationwide.

Kalahi-CIDSS is one of poverty alleviation programs of DSWD stipulated in the Magna Carta of the Poor. It uses the CDD approach in empowering communities that provides the opportunity for participation by giving them control over decisions and resources. Through CDD, sub-projects target the immediate needs of the communities and community members have larger stake in their own development.          

To date, there are 604,048 community volunteers who worked together to complete the 26,828 community sub-projects nationwide.

3,606 families who were affected by the Marawi Siege have already received P73,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 10 for their transitory support and livelihood needs.

About 98% of the families from Barangays Banggolo, Bubonga Lilod Madaya, Daguduban, and Dansalan (Marawi Capital) and who were targeted to receive the Transitory Family Support Package (TFSP) of P53,000 and Livelihood Settlement Grant (LSG) of P20,000.00 were able to claim their assistance from the DSWD-10 last April 6-7, and April 10-12, 2019.

The TFSP is intended for the affected families’ needs such as food, shelter, school supplies and toys and non-food items like family kits, hygiene kits and sleeping kits; while the LSG is intended as their start-up capital for their livelihood activities.

According to Mari-Flor A. Dollaga-Libang, Regional Director of DSWD-10, the Field Office has already paid out P262.4 Million for the TFSP and LSG assistance, including the pabaon package which includes canned goods, coffee, sugar, and cooking oil.

“There are 27,939 families that we have targeted to serve with TFSP and 30,522 families to serve with LSG. We have already scheduled payouts for the other 20 barangays in the Most Affected Areas (MAA) in Marawi City.”

The upcoming schedule of payouts for the other 20 barangays are:

Datu Naga – April 16, 2019; Datu sa Dansalan – April 17, 2019; Kapantaran – April 23, 2019; Lilod Madaya- April 24, 2019; Lumbac Marinaut – April 25, 2019; Lumbaca Madaya – April 25, 2019; Marinaut East – April 30, 2019; Marinaut West – May 2, 2019; Moncado Colony – May 7, 2019; Moncado Kadingilan – May 8-9, 2019; Norhaya Village – May 10, 2019; Raya Mandaya I – May 16, 2019; Raya Mandaya II – May 16, 2019; Sabala Manao – May 17, 2019; Sabala Manao Prop – May 21, 2019; Sangcay Dansalan – May 22, 2019; South Madaya Proper – May 23, 2019; Tolali – May 24, 2019; Tuca Marinaut – May 28, 2019; Wawalayan Marinaut – May 29, 2019

The beneficiary families are advised to bring Government-Issued Identification Cards for verification purposes and must subject themselves to be verified through the Kathanor Biometric Profiling.

The TFSP and the LSG are under the Programs, Projects, and Activities of the Department of Social Welfare and Development included in the Bangon Marawi Comprehensive Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan, amounting to P2.2 Billion Pesos for the affected families living in the most affected areas in Marawi City during the Marawi Siege that occurred last May 2017.

Written by Charmaine P. Tadlas

Cagayan de Oro City — Mary Che Vitor will wake up early in the morning helping her mother, Anita, in taking a bath and dressing up her sister who has a cerebral palsy.

An 18-year old graduate of senior high school of Cagayan de Oro City National High School (CDOCNHS) here, Mary Che will always devote time doing the household chores and taking care of her eldest sister, Mary Love, daily despite her hectic schedule.

Awarded with Highest Honors during the recent graduation in her class, Mary Che disclosed that she strived hard to excel in her class in order to earn good grades and lay strong foundation for her future.

Mary Che dreams of becoming a Psychologist.

Second of the five Vitor siblings, Mary Che promised to help her parents in rearing the eldest sister, who has mobility and verbal limitations.

Medical dictionary defines cerebral palsy as a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis) and/or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth.

May Che said she will provide physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech therapist for Mary Love when she will finish her college studies and earn a stable job to improve the condition of her eldest sister.

She is also planning to buy mobility aids and assistive devices for Mary Love.

Active in school and co-curricular activities

 May Che has been a consistent honor student since her elementary years in Kauswagan Elementary School.

Included in the fast learners’ section when she was in Grade 5 and 6, Mary Che still maintain excellent grades, earning recognition and awards during commencement exercises and graduation.

During her junior high school days, May Che enrolled at CDOCNHS. She did not only maintain her top post in her class, but, became active to co-curricular and school activities.

She has been representing her school in school press conferences, regional and provincial quiz bees and bowls during those years.

Mary loves to read and write stories during her elementary years. When an opportunity opened for her to the school paper, she applied for a position. She eventually became an essay writer and later an editor-in-chief of the school paper, The Naked Truth, a position she holds until she graduated in senior high school.

Trying her luck in organizing and leading her fellow students, May Che won the Treasurer position in the elections of their supreme student government.

She also won the trust and confidence of her fellow students taking the Humanities and Social Sciences track by making her their class president.

‘4Ps, best initiative of the government’

 Mary Che’s family is an active member of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Zone 6, Tinago, Capisnon, Kauswagan in this city.

While she’s about to graduate at the program after finishing senior high school, Mary Che asked DSWD and the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to continue the program to help the children of the poor Filipino families finish, at least, high school education and guarantee their health.

“Pantawid had been a blessing to us because it helps us in reaching for our dreams, that is, to live out of poverty,” she said in vernacular.

She added, “that’s why I strive hard to excel in my studies because I am confident that there is this program helping us in our needs. The small income from my father’s salary as security guard cannot compensate to our needs in our studies and daily needs. Thanks to the 4Ps program.”

The 4Ps is a human development measure of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18. It is patterned after the conditional cash transfer (CCT) schemes in Latin American and African countries, which have lifted millions of people around the world from poverty.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the lead government agency of the 4Ps.

Pantawid Pamilya is only one of the poverty reduction strategies of the national government implemented by the DSWD, with the primary aim to break the intergenerational poverty cycle.

In Northern Mindanao, there are more than 270,000 household active beneficiaries of the program.

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Written by Oliver Badel Inodeo, Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer, DSWD

The Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC), a facility run by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office X, provides a homelike environment where children feel at home and safe during their stay. Aside from their daily recreational activities in the center, children regularly have outdoor activities such as offering them opportunities for physical activity, freedom and movement, and promoting a sense of well-being. Outdoor activities are regularly conducted for the children in RSCC to enable them to have a closer experience with nature.

Since beach swimming expands the children’s horizon to discover nature and serves as a therapeutic approach in addressing their anxieties, the children residents of RSCC recently had their outdoor activity held at Marvilla Beach Resort, Opol, Misamis Oriental last February 15, 2018. The children with special needs also had a chance to dip at the beach and benefited from the natural healing effect of sea water.

Once can see that the children had a lot of fun playing through the interactive games facilitated by the RSCC staff. During the said activity, the children whose birthdays fall on the month of February were also recognized by blowing of candles on their cake.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is mandated to protect the welfare of the children, including the children residents of RSCC. While they are still under the custody of the DSWD, the latter assures that their welfare and their stay at the RSCC will be something that is meaningful and worthwhile.

Written by Faith M. Sabulana, DSWD / Rosanel P. Pague, DSWD

Pangantucan, Bukidnon — Sally Joy Falcis, a barangay health worker here, inspects her gardeearly in the morning daily, taking out weeds and watering the plants.

The 31-year old Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiary of Barangay Madaya, a 45-minute ride away from the Poblacion, tends a backyard garden planted with a wide variety of vegetables. Sally and her husband, Eduard, cultivate their garden in order to grow healthy vegetables.

Sally adopted the bio-intensive gardening method in growing their plants. Trained by the municipal agriculture office, Sally grows Baguio Beans, Ladies Fingers or locally known as Okra, String Beans, Sweet Potato, Alogbati (Basella Alba), Horse Radish, Chinese Cabbage, Eggplant, and Amplaya (Momordica Charantia).

Waste Segregation

Sally and her family uses recycled and processed waste materials in taking care of the vegetables in their garden.

Setting up an improvised trash recovery material facility: Malata (biodegradable materials; Dili Malata (non-biodegradable), and Mapuslan (recyclable materials); the family members sees to it that household wastes are segregated.

The family dumps biodegradable materials into the compost pit so that they will have an organic fertilizer when it decomposed, while plastic bags and used containers are filled with soil by the family for their garden. They call this method as “bagging” to prevent chicken and other domestic animals from destroying newly planted vegetables. Bagging also prevents soil erosion by rain waters.

The family also uses dung from their domesticated chickens as fertilizer to their vegetables.

Community participation

Sally is one of the 91 Pantawid Pamilya household beneficiaries of Barangay Madaya who adopted bio-intensive gardening in this village. Madaya is home to a population of 1,294 according to the 2010 Census of Population and Housing of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Meanwhile, another Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary in Madaya village Cheryl Poringuez, 50, said she and her family always get their nutritional needs from their grown vegetables.

With 10 children, four of whom are her dependents, Cheryl feeds her children with vegetables on the table daily. She cooks and serves vegetables in a variety of ways to encourage her children to eat the nutritious food.

Madaya Barangay Councilor Jemuel Palabrica discloses that Pangantucan Mayor Miguel Silva Jr issued a memorandum order on backyard gardening dated May 9, 2017. Furthermore, Palabrica enthused that his village had since intensified its campaign to every resident to plant vegetables in their backyard.

Mayor Silva, in his memorandum order number 047-05-2017 issued to all barangay captains, directed the village chiefs to monitor the gardening activities of the 4Ps members.

Vegetable planting, Silva said, will help solve malnutrition in the town, adding that barangay captains shall check regularly the backyard gardens of 4Ps members.

The barangay captain shall then issue a compliance certificate to every 4ps household for free for the Municipal Inter-Agency Committee to monitor the compliance of the beneficiaries.

To support the call of the mayor, the Barangay Council of Madaya and all other 18 barangays of Pangantucan passed and approved an ordinance urging all 4Ps and non-4Ps beneficiaries to have backyard gardening using the organic method.

Palabrica disclosed that his barangay has been providing free vegetable seeds such as carrots, baguio beans, okra, eggplant, among others to residents.

He notes that the council has been purchasing P1,500.00 worth of vegetables seeds for distribution to its residents quarterly.

Furthermore, he says that the council will continue to enforce the ordinance to ensure nutritious food will be served during meals in every family.

The onset of the dry spell here, affecting the produce for more than a month to date, farmers like Sally need to water the plants daily to prevent its soil from drying up.

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Photos by Jerome Humawan, FDS focal and Oliver Badel Inodeo, Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer.

Pangantucan, Bukidnon — Sally Joy Falcis, a barangay health worker here, inspects her garden early in the morning daily, taking out weeds and watering the plants.

The 31-year old Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiary of Barangay Madaya, a 45-minute ride away from the Poblacion, tends a backyard garden planted with a wide variety of vegetables. Sally and her husband, Eduard, cultivate their garden in order to grow healthy vegetables.

Sally adopted the bio-intensive gardening method in growing their plants. Trained by the municipal agriculture office, Sally grows Baguio Beans, Ladies Fingers or locally known as Okra, String Beans, Sweet Potato, Alogbati (Basella Alba), Horse Radish, Chinese Cabbage, Eggplant, and Amplaya (Momordica Charantia).

Waste Segregation

Sally and her family uses recycled and processed waste materials in taking care of the vegetables in their garden.

Setting up an improvised trash recovery material facility: Malata (biodegradable materials; Dili Malata (non-biodegradable), and Mapuslan (recyclable materials); the family members sees to it that household wastes are segregated.

The family dumps biodegradable materials into the compost pit so that they will have an organic fertilizer when it decomposed, while plastic bags and used containers are filled with soil by the family for their garden. They call this method as “bagging” to prevent chicken and other domestic animals from destroying newly planted vegetables. Bagging also prevents soil erosion by rain waters.

The family also uses dung from their domesticated chickens as fertilizer to their vegetables.

Community participation

Sally is one of the 91 Pantawid Pamilya household beneficiaries of Barangay Madaya who adopted bio-intensive gardening in this village. Madaya is home to a population of 1,294 according to the 2010 Census of Population and Housing of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Meanwhile, another Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary in Madaya village Cheryl Poringuez, 50, said she and her family always get their nutritional needs from their grown vegetables.

With 10 children, four of whom are her dependents, Cheryl feeds her children with vegetables on the table daily. She cooks and serves vegetables in a variety of ways to encourage her children to eat the nutritious food.

Madaya Barangay Councilor Jemuel Palabrica discloses that Pangantucan Mayor Miguel Silva Jr issued a memorandum order on backyard gardening dated May 9, 2017. Furthermore, Palabrica enthused that his village had since intensified its campaign to every resident to plant vegetables in their backyard.

Mayor Silva, in his memorandum order number 047-05-2017 issued to all barangay captains, directed the village chiefs to monitor the gardening activities of the 4Ps members.

Vegetable planting, Silva said, will help solve malnutrition in the town, adding that barangay captains shall check regularly the backyard gardens of 4Ps members.

The barangay captain shall then issue a compliance certificate to every 4ps household for free for the Municipal Inter-Agency Committee to monitor the compliance of the beneficiaries.

To support the call of the mayor, the Barangay Council of Madaya and all other 18 barangays of Pangantucan passed and approved an ordinance urging all 4Ps and non-4Ps beneficiaries to have backyard gardening using the organic method.

Palabrica disclosed that his barangay has been providing free vegetable seeds such as carrots, baguio beans, okra, eggplant, among others to residents.

He notes that the council has been purchasing P1,500.00 worth of vegetables seeds for distribution to its residents quarterly.

Furthermore, he says that the council will continue to enforce the ordinance to ensure nutritious food will be served during meals in every family.

The onset of the dry spell here, affecting the produce for more than a month to date, farmers like Sally need to water the plants daily to prevent its soil from drying up.

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Photos by Jerome Humawan, FDS focal and Oliver Badel Inodeo, Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer.

We all go through various challenges in life.  For Elsa Marie P.  Ganzan, being able to surpass her trials in life indeed, left her lots of lessons.

A mother of six, Elsa is an epitome of a solo parent, who has nothing in mind but, to be able to find means to provide for the needs of   her growing children. She is a picture of strength and determination to withstand trials and the ups and downs in life.

Her day starts with cooking kakanin or native delicacies to be sold for the day and at the same time, cooking the meals for her five children and preparing them for school.  Elsa earns a living by selling kakanin or native delicacies and cooked viand.

A petite 47-year-old woman like Elsa, one would never know that, she had indeed been to a lot of hardships in life much more, a victim of domestic violence and abuse before.

Living with an abusive and violent partner for 14 years was never easy for Elsa.  Her partner, then a construction worker, always finds fault in her, oftentimes, accusing her of having other affairs.  This led to continuous and habitual beatings which were witnessed by her children.  Elsa then, did not have the courage of pressing charges against him, out of pity to her children.  She painstakingly endured every beating and all forms of abuse inflicted by her partner for the sake of her children.

It was then in 2014 when she could no longer take the abuse of her live in partner when he would also beat her children.  She resorted to filing charges against her partner.  This was the reason why Elsa and her kids were brought to the Regional Haven for Women in Northern Mindanao for temporary shelter.

It was at the Center where Elsa learned how to cook various delicacies.  While at the Center, it was not only Elsa who was helped but more so, her children to slowly recover from the trauma they had experienced from their abusive father.

For Elsa, it was a blessing in disguise that they were placed for temporary shelter at the Center.  “I am grateful that through the Haven of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, not only was I able to recover from the bad experiences and the trauma I have had but, it has also provided me opportunities to learn a lot of skills which I have used to meet the needs of my children.  It is never easy to be a solo parent, but, with the help of the DSWD, it has somehow eased the burden.”

Through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s recommendation, Elsa and her kids were also granted a unit by the Filipino Housing Project in Calaanan Relocation Site in Cagayan de Oro City.  Aside from the free housing Unit that they were granted with, the children are presently enrolled at the nearby Public Schools to which, Elsa is even more thankful.

Elsa’s story is only one of the many lives who have been transformed and have proved to themselves that indeed, there is hope after all the trials they have been through.  This also shows how the Department of Social Welfare and Development, through the untiring support and labor of the staff of the Regional Haven for Women, have helped restore the once broken and hopeless lives of women and children victims of abuse and violence.

Written by Mitzie S. Santiago, DSWD