Bukidnon has a long history of internal armed conflict. From tribal wars to insurgents, this lush land of forests and agriculture is scarred with violence. Consequently, one factor contributing to such armed violence is poverty. Government services are not accessible due to factors like road conditions and distance, available resources, such as financial and physical assets, and most importantly, education.

Depriving poor communities from access to their basic rights make the Indigenous People vulnerable to joining militants. Yet not everything stays the same forever. One barangay in the Municipality of Quezon, Province of Bukidnon is about to experience change and, soon, peace.

Sitio Gamut of Barangay Sta. Filomena is considered the farthest community in Quezon. 24 kilometers from downtown with approximately 400 households, the area is mostly inhabited by the Manobo-Pulangihon tribe people. They are traditional farmers who lack new technology for post-farming activities such as shellers and haulers to augment the market value of their produce like corn and coffee.

They lack the capital to buy the necessary machinery. Saving money is a luxury they cannot afford to do as they need every cent earned for their daily needs.

With the introduction of a Sustainable Livelihood Program’s Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (SLP Pamana) project to their community, the locals have reckoned the idea that things are about to change for them. The group of farmers with 30 members has been organized into an SLP Association which adapted the name Barangay Farmers Tribe Group Pamana SLPA.

To aid the association in their farming activities and increase their production rate, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process have provided the association with corn sheller and coffee dehauler.

The said project is one of the government’s programs to strengthen peace-building, reconstruction, and development in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas. Notably, it is not only the association who will benefit from the said project but the whole community as well.  

Looking forward to the improvement of their income through the provision of the much-needed service, the members of Barangay Farmers Tribe Group Pamana SLPA likewise hope to achieve peace through productivity and socio-economic growth as they soon harvest their valuable grains of corn and coffee.

Cagayan de Oro City — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) recently conferred the 2016 Outstanding Public Officials and Employees (Dangal ng Bayan) Award to Sonia Ipang, Social Welfare Officer III of DSWD Field Office 10 and the head of the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) in Gingoog City, in a ceremony held in Heroes Hall of Malacanang.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte, CSC Chair Alice Bala, and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales bestowed the award to Ipang. She also received the gold gilded trophy and P200,000 cash from the Central Bank of the Philippines.

As an awardee, Ipang will be automatically promoted to a one step higher rank as per provision under the Republic Act 6713, an act establishing a code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees, to uphold the time-honored principle of public office being a public trust, granting incentives and rewards for exemplary service, enumerating prohibited acts and transactions and providing penalities for violation thereof and for other purposes.

The Dangal ng Bayan Award is conferred by the CSC to an individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of his/her observance of the eight norms of behavior provided for under RA 6713: commitment to public interest, professionalism, justness and sincerity, political neutrality, responsiveness to the public, nationalism and patriotism, commitment to democracy, and simple living.

DSWD Field Office 10 Regional Director, Nestor B. Ramos, said the recognition of Ipang serves as an inspiration to all workers of DSWD in Northern Mindanao.

“She is the pride of DSWD and Northern Mindanao. I hope workers will emulate her great dedication and commitment to our agency, clientele, and country,” said Ramos.

Ipang received the award for her passion and diligence in taking care of the children in conflict with the law (CICL). Under her watch, the RRCY in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental taught residents to become more responsible through engagement in livelihood opportunities such as crafts making and backyard farming, and activities such as sports fests and educational trips.

Compassion, care, and dignity

Child protection is an important part of the work of a staff of the RRCY. That is why implementing child protection programs are now strictly observed inside the center. With this, Miss Ipang, as a social worker, ensured that vulnerable children are protected, to the best of her ability, wherever they are.

Free from discrimination, she treated the CICLs with compassion, care, dignity, and understanding who are undergoing rehabilitation inside the DSWD-run center.

To address issues and concerns RRCY were facing, Ipang implemented some programs at the center and made it to a point to all her colleagues that they are working as a team. She advocates for improved laws, policies, and systems in the center to realize and achieve the goal of RRCY which is the rehabilitation of clients.

This happened when Ipang was sent to a training in Cebu on Therapeutic Community. She applied her learnings from the training and re-echoed all her learnings to her co-workers through an orientation. This paved the way for the implementation of programs and services at the center which involved both staff and clients. Such implementation is geared towards improving and changing the atmosphere of the center and the rehabilitation efforts as well.

She amplified the implementation with the several learnings from trainings she attended relative to handling difficult behavior of the CICLs. This resulted in the gradual improvement of the behavior of the children clients inside the center. Each client embraced the changes, thereby making them believers of peace, love, and understanding. There are no more reported conflicts among clients within the center.

The continuous pursuit of excellent performance is Ipang’s mantra in serving the clients at the center. As it is, she was promoted as center head in 2004 and assumed office in 2005. Her first month was quite difficult.

As a newly-hired center head, for a while, she performed two functions: a center head and a case manager/social worker since the social worker position was vacant at that time and filling up the position was still on screening process. Her multi-tasking performance declined when DSWD hired another social worker in 2007.

With her expertise, all problems and difficult situations arising and encountered by the staff and by the center were addressed. Change has come, from being unattractive, offensive, and dilapidated buildings of the center to becoming a Center of Excellence after passing and maintaining the accreditation of the Standards Bureau of DSWD. As Level III accredited center, RRCY has become a world standard in providing rehabilitation to CICLs.

The Protective Services Unit of DSWD which directs and manages center heads are well aware of the personal contributions of Ipang in making the center free from children’s conflicts, vandalism, and vices among CICLs.

Rosemarie Conde, PSU head, disclosed that Ipang would immediately find solutions and resolve complex problems, a rare and enviable ability in center heads now.

“She always innovates and closely work with her colleagues, inspiring and encouraging them to work as a team. She has greatly contributed to the development of the center and the total rehabilitation of the children as a center head and as a mother to all in the center,” added Conde.

The mother image resonates throughout the center that resulted in more productive and valuable clients. One of the examples is the client Rustie Quintana. Quintana, after undergoing formation and rehabilitation at the center was awarded as one of the Ten Outstanding Youth of the Philippines. No less than the former President Benigno S. Aquino III handed the award to Mr. Quintana.

Committed and dedicated

For the last three years, there have been significant transformations of RRCY under the leadership of Ipang. Her hardwork and perseverance in running the center of DSWD has been enormous that DSWD officials, through former Regional Director Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo and current RD Nestor Briones Ramos, exerted and all out support to the programs and services implemented at RRCY.

From the dilapidated building to new and more buildings, Ipang commits to giving excellent service to the clients. She also repaired and renovated some RRCY facilities and amenities to pave the way for a conducive rehabilitation center for CICLs. This include the construction of as new building which now serves as the administration building of the center, making the homelife area safe and spacious for the residents to live in,  completing the guest house.

The extension area of the administration building now serves as the venue for learning like the conduct of skills training, lectures, meetings, and many other purposes.

Based on PSU’s observation, RRCY has tremendously evolved from a mere stop-over of CICLs to a world class rehabilitation center. Ipang has contributed  to the over- all impact of the center’s  operation and achievement as Level III accredited center.

Resource Generation

Ipang mobilized resources for the completion of the second floor of the administration building. The Department of Public Works and Highways based in Gingoog City pledged for its construction and completion of a building, involving the total amount of P2 million. She has inked a memorandum of understanding for its completion.

In addition, DSWD hired good and competent staff assigned at the center that complements Ipang’s quest for transformation of the center and processing the lives of the residents. They comprise the team in providing wholistic approach to the residents.

They still use and apply the therapeutic community and milleu therapy as part of the approaches of the staff in dealing the multi-faceted problems of the residents. These approaches have contributed to the zero to two percent performance as far as abscondence of wards is concerned. Abscondence is an act of clients of the center leaving without permission. This is a clear indication that residents have been enjoying the quality of care bestowed upon them by the staff, thereby making them comfortable, safe, and secured.

Recognition and commendation

RRCY under Ipang’s received commendations from DSWD Central Office for attaining the highest standard of accreditation, the Level Three (3) or as a center of excellence. The said accreditation was made in December 2015.

The commitment for excellent service to the clients never ends with the recognition and honor received. Ipang and the rest of the staff maintained the level of excellence. In November 2016, The Standards Bureau of DSWD monitored and assessed the recent operation of RRCY and it found out that the center has maintained it world class quality of service and programs to the clients.

“The strong leadership of Ipang is evident and this could be attributed to her over-all performance as the center manager, garnering an outstanding performance over and above other centers/ facilities run and managed by DSWD Field Office 10,” said Assistant Regional Director for Administration, Manuel M. Borres.

Borres added that RRCY-10 stands as one of the most  prestigious centers in the Philippines, a facility which can be called a social laboratory where private organizations, non-governmental organizations and government organizations will look upon for possible replication.

Moreover, case management process and records keeping are well-organized and monitored. The intervention program of each resident is based on their psycho-social needs thereby rehabilitation of CICLs admitted in the facility.

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“Ang Kalahi-CIDSS maayo kini kay ang isig-katawo sa barangay mu-cooperate gyud ug magpakabana, kung matapok ang katawhan – there is strength (Kalahi-CIDSS is good because it makes the people in the barangay cooperate and care, if the community gathers – there is strength)”

The driving force that Thelma C Paalisbo, 48, from Barangay Libertad, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, has to keep on moving forward in life is dedication, hard work, service for others.

“Sa una, sa gawas ko nagtrabaho, 23 years I joined in a mission outside the Philippines. 10 years mag-raise mi og kwarta para makasuporta sa mission, pagbalik nko diri sa Pinas, nakahunahuna pud ko nga magtrabaho diri o magserbisyo sa komunidad (I worked abroad for 23 years, I joined in a mission outside the Philippines. 10 years we raised money to support the mission, when I returned home, I thought of working here and serve the community)” Thelma said.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Community Empowerment Facilitator Glenn Uranus Alcoran describes Thelma as a strong-minded woman. “If she knows she is right you cannot change her mind” continues Alcoran.

 

Libertad and the Community-Driven Development

The Community-Driven Development (CDD) concept in the Philippines is implemented through the DSWD’s Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community Driven Development (Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP)

Thelma narrates how the Kalahi-CIDSS’ community sub-projects helped their barangay and neighboring communities since 2011.

“Sa PAMANA namo nga project, sa among barangay mabalitok gyud ang mga motor sa una – 2011 nakatabang gyud tag dako ang atong proyekto nga farm-to-market road, karon naa na ang dalan, hamugaway na ang mga magbiyahe ug magdala sa ilang mga produkto ngadto sa merkado (In the PAMANA project, in our barangay – motorcycles would always meet accidents – in 2011, our farm-to-market road project really helped, now the road is there, traveling through the barangay is now smooth and they can bring their farm products to the market)” enthused Thelma.

PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) is the national government’s convergence program that extends development interventions to isolated, hard-to-reach and conflict-affected communities, ensuring that they are not left behind.

Thelma says “as a volunteer sa procurement team, you need to find for yourself para pamilite, mangita gyud mi og paagi para makapanganvas. Makatabang man gyud ni (Kalahi-CIDSS), pareha anang eskwelahan nga ang gi-fund sa Australia, mapasalamaton kaayo ko nga naay nag fund, kay diri sa Barangay Libertad – ang mga eskwelahan puros daghan guba, paagi aning among gitukod nga eskwelahan, ang mga bata diri karon ug sa uaabot nga panahon makagamit pa ani nga mga classrooms  (as a volunteer in the procurement team, you need to find for yourself some money for fare, you need to find ways just to canvas for supplies and materials, Kalahi-CIDSS really helps, just like school we built from the Australia funding, I am thankful for the funding because here in Barangay Libertad – the schools are damaged. With this school we built, children now and the next generations can use this).”

In 2015, the community volunteers of Barangay Libertad successfully implemented the construction of a 1 Unit – 2 Classroom School Building funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/AustraliaAid (DFAT/AusAID) with a total project cost of Php 1,899,342.00.

“Nalipay ang komudidad kay naa nay eskwelahan diri nga tarong, nagtinabangay gyud ang mga katawhan aron matapos gyud ang proyekto, kung adunay mga buluhaton sa komunidad, karon nakahibalo gyud ang tanan kung nay mga aktibidades sa barangay (The community is happy that a school building is already in place, the community really worked together for this, now everybody knows all the activities we have in the barangay)” Thelma said.

The implementations in the Municipality of Kolambugan, of course, also had their share of struggles. “Only minor struggles, no major struggles experienced since the local government units are very supportive in the implementation of the program, the only struggle we had was dealing with the different behaviors of the community volunteers that sometimes would lead to less desirable scenarios, however, this was resolved through close coordination with them, monitoring and supervision with regular meetings to report updates and discuss issues and concerns with them” DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS Area Coordinator Carolyn Caw-it says.

Thelma adds “sa construction, nakita nako nga kung maayo ang budget sa proyekto, makapalit gyud ka og de kaldidad nga materyales para ang building pud malig-on, kung barat ang materyales dili gyud lig-on (in the construction, I see that if we have a very good budget, we can purchase quality construction materials for a strong building, if the materials are substandard it’s not strong).”

 

Volunteers as Partners for Change

Thelma sees volunteerism as a catalyst for change; she sees this first hand in her daily activities with her fellow volunteers in Libertad. “Nausab gyud ang kinaiya sa mga tawo, diri nako nakita nga kung ang komunidad magkahiusa dali ra ang trabaho, nakita pud nako ang kooperasyon sa komunidad, ug ang sa working team namo maayo – maayo pud ang resulta, dili gubot (the attitude of the community changed, I saw that if the community will work together – the work is easy, I also saw the cooperation of the community, and the working team is good – the results are also good and orderly).”

Thelma also expressed her thanks on behalf of her fellow volunteers, “mapasalamaton gyud mi aning mga proyekto, nalipay gyud ang katawhan diri sa among barangay kai niabot ang Kalahi-CIDSS, kung wala ni miabot, walay siguro’y mahitabo nga kalamboan. Maayo usab ang CDD kai diri nato makita nga gatinabangay gyud ang mga katawhan sa komunidad ug gapakabana alang sa isig-katawo (we are really thankful for these projects, the people in our barangay are really happy that Kalahi-CIDSS is here, if not for this, there could not have been any progress here. CDD is good since it is through this that we see the people help each other in the community and cares for each other).”

“I’m happy serving my country and the people around. I hope nga naa pay daghan proyekto para sa Barangay Libertad ug sa katibuk-an sa munisipyo (I’m happy serving my country and the people around. I hope that there will be more projects for Barangay Libertad and the whole municipality)” Thelma concludes.

The community volunteers of Barangay Libertad are currently facilitating the construction of a 100 Linear Meter Seawall with a total project cost of Php 2,471,263.00 from the Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP 2015-2016 cycle.

Written by Shaun Alejandrae Yap Uy, DSWD

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO, 23 January (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to impact the lives of the poor Filipino families with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya).

During the regular program of Philippine Information Agency’s Lambo Dyes in Radyo Ng Bayan, two Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries shared their insights on how the program changed their lives. Both of them serve as parent leaders in their respective barangays where they handle 30 or more members.

According to Vivian Anadon, 35, who currently resides in Pinikitan, barangay Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City, there was really a big change that happened to herself and  family. Anadon is a mother of four who are all attending school with the help of the Pantawid Pamilya. She said she was able to send her children to school and has bought school materials because of the program.

Anadon’s membership to the Pantawid Pamilya and becoming a parent leader brought her so much experience and learning. She was even chosen to be in Manila for DSWD’s first international conference on Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) held on January 11. Anadon took part in the workshop by sharing her experience as a beneficiary and a parent leader to her co-members and guests from other countries like Mexico.

“I was less confident before but now I learned to face everyone,” Anadon expressed.

Meanwhile, Joecel S. Cabanday, 38, parent leader of Barangay 25, shared that she became a recipient of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) after attending several seminars on livelihood. Cabanday added that there were really significant changes that happened from the past, shifting from being clueless to managing their own sources of income with the aid of SLP seminars.

Cabanday and Anadon are members of Pantawid Pamilya for more than four years and as parent leaders, they take charge in the assembly of members in a cluster for Family Development Sessions (FDS) and other Pantawid Pamilya related seminars. Parent leaders also work with the DSWD city links to convey the concerns and updates of the members and vice versa.

Currently, DSWD urges the community of both members and non-members of the program to safeguard the families that are in need of help and reminds the public on the major conditions that every ‪beneficiary has to observe to be retained on their list and that includes regular attendance to the family development sessions, monthly family check-up at the rural health units, and at least 80 percent attendance in school for the children. All these are designed for the beneficiaries to be able to achieve social transformation and eventually attain self-sufficiency. (Jonathan M. Macas/PIA10)

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Cagayan de Oro City — Workers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Northern Mindanao warmly welcome the newly installed Regional Director, Nestor Briones Ramos.

Ramos, a former Regional Director of DSWD Eastern Visayas, replaced the vacated position of Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo who is now assigned as the Regional Director of DSWD Zamboanga effective January 4.

In his message during the flag raising ceremony, Ramos said he is not asking DSWD workers’ loyalty, but workers’ loyalty to their work.

He said he expects everyone’s cooperation in delivering services to the agency’s clientele.

Photos by Shaun Alejandrae Y. Uy, Text by Oliver Badel Inodeo

 

Cagayan de Oro City — They have nothing to say, but, to say their thanks.

On the day of their departure to Manila from here, the eleven Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who finished a housekeeping course paid a courtesy call to DSWD Northern Mindanao to express their thanks and promise to do their best in living out from poverty.

Mitzi Pactanan, mother of seven children, told Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo, Regional Director of DSWD Northern Mindanao, that she has been preparing her husband, her children and herself emotionally because she is leaving for work in Saudi Arabia.

Pactanan finished the skills training at Skills Mastery Institute under the Sustainable Livelihood Program last May 2015.

She feels blessed with the TESDA-accredited training at SMI because “I was given a big opportunity by the government to undergo skills training for free and they facilitated to help me find employment.”

Pactanan, a resident of Mauswagon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, urged her fellow graduates to make use of their skills to improve their well-being.

“Dili tanan nga gusto mo-eskwela maka-eskwela mao nga thankful kaayo ko sa DSWD, sa TESDA, ug sa SMI nga gihatagan ‘mi og opportunity nga makatabang sa among pamilya. Makapa-eskwela na jud ko sa akong manghod.” (Not all who desires to study can study. That is why I am thankful to DSWD, TESDA, and SMI for giving us the opportunity to help our families. Now, I can send my younger brothers and sisters to school).

Pactanan said she has been dreaming for a better life and the national government fulfilled her dreams. “Nangandoy jud ko sa una pa nga mo-angat among panginabuhian. Salamat kaayo sa national government. Hinaot daghan pa ang inyong matabangan. We feel nga love kaayo mi ninyo,” said Pactanan. (Before, I dreamed of a better life. Thank you very much for the national government. I hope you can help more people like us. We feel you love us more.)

Work in Saudi Arabia

Pactanan is among the first batch of SMI graduates who will work as housekeeping personnel in Saudi Arabia.

Four of her batchmates: Sheryl Gequilan of Parola, Macabalan this city; Glory May Llemit and Emeelyn Roco of Bal-ason, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; and Rizalina Alora of Sangalan, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; are set to depart for Saudi Arabia on June 22, 2015.

The other seven, including Pactanan, will momentarily stay in Manila for passport processing and pre-employment seminar.

Dr. Irene Floro, president of SMI, told Atty. Solamillo and TESDA 10 Regional Director Edgar Sales that SMI will shoulder for the food and accommodation of the 11 DSWD beneficiaries in Manila for free.

The SLP recently conducted series of graduation exercises with the support of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and their accredited schools, highlighting the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries’ completion of various Technical Vocational (TechVoc) Skills Training programs in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

Monitor workers

Atty. Solamillo, during the courtesy call, reminded the future overseas workers that DSWD will continue to monitor the well-being and status of their respective families.

The regional director emphasized that municipal links have been ordered to provide psycho-social interventions to the families they will leave behind.

The future overseas workers, Solamillo added, must also accept the fact that they will feel lonely being far from their respective families.

One way of overcoming it, she said, is to pray.

Engr. Sales, for his part, told the beneficiaries to adhere to the values taught by DSWD, TESDA and SMI in their workplace.

Sales is optimistic that the beneficiaries are equipped with skills that are more than what is being demanded by their employers.

The SLP facilitates opportunities for the development and management of resource-based, culturally sensitive, market driven and economically viable micro-enterprises; employment facilitation; community empowerment through skills enhancement trainings; link program participants to micro-insurance providers and promote comprehensive family-based approach and community participation.

Meanwhile the Pantawid Pamilya program is the national government’s social development program that provides conditional cash grants to poor families with children aged 18 years old and below. A household could receive a maximum of P1,400 a month for their health, nutrition and education provided that they comply with conditions of the Program. These conditions include availing of regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines, maintaining at least 85% school attendance, and regularly attending family development sessions.

To date, Northern Mindanao has 259,797 active beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya. Of this, 108,998 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries enjoy the benefits of the SLP. ###

 

Written by Oliver Badel Inodeo, DSWD Northern Mindanao

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