As the Chair of the National Committee on the Filipino Family (NCFF), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led the Filipino nation in joining families worldwide to celebrate the International Day of Families (IDF) on May 15, 2021.

The IDF is yearly celebrated every 15th of May following a United Nations General Assembly resolution in 1993.  This year’s focal theme is “Families and New Technologies.”

On the occasion of the 2021 IDF Celebration, the NCFF conducted an online family forum on May 17, 2021 with the sub-theme “Pagpapatibay ng Pamilyang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Pandemya Gamit ang Makabagong Teknolohiya,” for a timely discussion of the current situation of the Filipino families.

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista opened the online family forum and welcomed the family advocates, the members and representatives of the NCFF composed of National Government Agencies and Civil Society Organizations.

Providing insights on the how families will be able to cope or rise above the challenges of the pandemic, keynote speakers for this significant event were former Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and current Public Relations Officer- International Relations Committee and Chair of the YWCA Founder’s Federation of the Philippines Inc., Dr. Nona S. Ricafort and Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso represented by Ms. Ma. Asuncion “Re” Fugoso of the Manila Department of Social Welfare.

Furthermore, panelists were invited to share their insights, experiences about aspects of family life and the positive use of modern technology during the pandemic.  Among the panelists were: Assistant Secretary Alexa Danille Dayanghirang of the National Youth Commission (NYC); Director Margarita Ballesteros of the Department of Education (DepEd); Mr. Emmanuel Mirus Ponon, Executive Director of the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network  and a volunteer coach of the National Youth Commission;  Mr. Raul Socrates Banzuela, Executive Director of the Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA); Ms. Marissa A. Domingo, President of the 2018 Liwayway Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Association; Mr. Santaner T. Iray, Chief Trainer of DRUG-CHECK-Philippines; and, Rev. Fr. Anthony Chan P. Olaguer, Parish Priest of San Jose De Trozo Parish.

Also on this occasion, the NCFF launched the National Search for Natatanging Pamilyang Pilipino which aims to recognize families that have upheld and demonstrated Filipino values in their way of life, maintaining family cohesiveness and well-being despite the challenges.

The online family forum was conducted via zoom hosted by Unilab, an NCFF member organization, and livestreamed via the Unilab’s official Facebook account and shared in the DSWD official Facebook account @dswdserves. ###