Conner – Beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) observed the first Pantawid Pamilya Day in the municipality.

103 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries attended the celebration held at Conner Central National High School Main Campus in Barangay Ripang, Conner, Apayao.

The activity aims to encourage and remind all beneficiaries to become consistent on the education and health conditionalities of the program. The beneficiaries’ compliance would help them to improve their status of social well – being and for the continuous healthy status of their children and regular schooling. Mrs. Mary Jane Layugan, 31, who has four (4) children and one of the three parent leaders said that, “pagyamanen mi unay jay kaada mi iti programa ta dakel unay itulong na. Isukapay nga mangnayon iti kasapulan ti pamilya ken anak mi”. She has no other source of income besides farming since most of her time is allotted for her small children and as housekeeper.

It was also a good venue for all the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya program in the area to show their unity, camaraderie, and cooperation in conducting community activities like this.

During the event, the Pantawid Pamilya families were able to increase their level of awareness on the purpose of the program to the beneficiaries through lecture and discussion, they work as a team, and expressed their thoughts and ideas through workshop and quiz bee conducted.

The activity ended after all beneficiaries received the donations from European Network of Filipinos in Diaspora, United Kingdom chapter (ENFID-UK). The Filipino Community donated adult clothes and toys for kids through the ENFID-UK for indigents in the Cordillera.

As of 6 July 2014, there are 1516 active Pantawid beneficiaries in the municipality, broken down as follows: Allangigan-43, Banban-93, Buluan-94, Caglayan-111, Calafug-53, Cupis-19, Daga-100, Guinaang-103, Guinamgaman- 51, Ili-72, Karikitan-92, Katablangan-51, Malama-120, Mang-67, Mawegui- 43, Nabuangan-43, Paddaoan-125, Puguin-54, Ripang-36, Sacpil-85, and Talifugo-61.# DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, with reports from Pedro Potokna Jr.