Misamis Occidental — As support to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the Department of Agriculture (DA) gave livestock for its program beneficiaries who are ready for entrepreneurial ventures in Lopez Jaena, here.
According to Merge Anunciado of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the agriculture department gave livestock to 18 families coming from various barangays in the municipality as part of their commitment to the Municipal Action Plan for Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. In addition, DA also conducted capability building activities to teach these families on livestock production and in sustaining the business to support their families.
The Pantawid Pamilya is a national government’s intervention for poor families by investing in their children’s health and education. It also gives them access to livelihood opportunities in order to support them socio-economically.
The program is implemented by the DSWD but is also being supported by the DA and other national government agencies, local government unit, non-government organizations, civil society groups, and academe through provision of various resources such as conduct of skills development and livelihood trainings, job opportunities, scholarships, among others.
One of the Pantawid families that received livestock from DA was the Caay family. Sally Caay, a resident of Barangay Dampalan in Lopez Jaena, said that the livestock she received from DA has greatly helped her with her finances to support her family of six.
“Nagpasalamat gyud ko sa atong nasudnong panggobyerno kay naghatag silag pagtagad kanamong mga kabus (I thank the national government for attending to us, poor families,” Sally says. “Dako kaayo ug tabang ang kining livestock nga gihatag sa DA sa akong pamilya. Sa pagkakaron, gina-alima namo ang kining baka nga gihatag sa DA aron makatabang kini sa among pinansyal nga panginahanglanon sa umaabot (this livestock is a big help for my family. For now, I am just raising this cow that I received from DA so that this can help us financially in the future).”
Lopez Jaena is a home of 1,639 Pantawid Pamilya families.
Written by Charmaine P. Tadlas, DSWD