Jomel Anthony V. Gutierrez | Information Officer
The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman was honored as an adopted daughter of Municipality of Tineg in Abra during her three-day visit in the area.
In a ceremony held at Barangay Caganayan on the country’s Day of Valor, April 9, the DSWD Secretary was given the name “Salidummay” for her dedication and commitment in helping the people of municipality.
Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo conferred the Sangguniang Bayan approved Resolution No. 13 Series of 2013 recognizing and appreciating the Secretary’s effort to visit the far-flung, poverty-stricken community, to listen to the concerns of its people, and to make a promise of taking actions on their various appeals to alleviate them from their poor condition.
During the ceremony, Secretary Soliman was given a capsulated gold and was asked to wear the traditional attires “bidang” and “kimona”.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Regional Director of DSWD-CAR, Leonardo C. Reynoso, commander of the Army’s 503rd Brigade in Abra Brig. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, and the provincial police director of the province, Police Senior Superintendent Benjamin M. Lusad.
The DSWD Secretary together with Director Reynoso spent two days in Tineg to personally monitor the living conditions of the people. She also had a dialogue with non-beneficiaries of Pantawid Program in the area and asked them what kind of assistance they needed from the national government.
The Secretary also went to Sitio Tapayen, Barangay Alaoa where a public forum was held. During the forum, the Secretary answered various questions and issues raised by the members of the community which are mostly about the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
She also announced the good news to the Program beneficiaries in the area that the release of their cash grants will now be conducted in Caganayan Proper so that they do not have to travel to Bangued to withdraw their monthly grants. She promised that DSWD would try its best to implement the new development by June this year.
Last year, the Secretary was also adopted daughter of Mountain Province and was named “Kadmali” after her successful visit to Besao town. #
