In celebration of the National Family month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Family Day in Pinukpuk,Kalinga on 5 October 2019.
The said activity aims to strengthen family ties and empower family beneficiaries.
Aligned with the 2019 National Pantawid Pamilya Day theme ‘Pamilyang Pilipino, Taas Noo sa Buong Mundo’, thirty two (32) Pantawid Household beneficiaries or one hundred thirty two (132) family members from the different barangays of Pinukpuk participated in the activity.
Learning sessions were conducted each for parents and children. The parent beneficiaries were educated on some tips on how to raise their children with emphasis on the challenges and trends being experienced by parents. A brief presentation of the joint Gulayan Sa Barangay project was also provided during the activity. On the other hand, the children beneficiaries learned about their rights and roles as members of the family and community. The children were also reminded about the importance of open communication with their parents.
After the learning sessions, the parents and children beneficiaries exchanged love letters and messages as expressions of appreciation for each other. The families were given the opportunity to converse with each other wholeheartedly. For them, it was an emotional but meaningful moment.
Aside from building strong family ties, the activity also became a venue to remind the beneficiaries on their responsibilities as members of the community and the Program.
“Pinukpuk was chosen because we would like to inculcate to the family members especially to the parents the value of family togetherness and relationship. They (the parents) play an important role in guiding their children in school and by simple ways, we hope that the family beneficiaries realized the spirit of solidarity that will eventually make them resilient families and responsible members of the community,” Pantawid Pamilya Regional Program Coordinator Fatima Florendo Florendo said.
“We would like to make the family members treasure and cherish every moment of the activity. Not to make them cry, but to make them realize the importance of family bonding which they do not usually do every day in their homes. I think we made them feel it. It is a heartwarming moment”, Pantawid Pamilya Kalinga Social Welfare Officer III Lorna Lumioan said.
Meanwhile, OIC- Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Fatima Lagayon thanked DSWD for choosing the municipality in the conduct of the family day.
“We are happy that DSWD selected our municipality for the activity. Our family beneficiaries here in Pinukpuk enjoyed the activity and we hope that they will apply the learnings in their homes. We would also like to assure the continuous support of LGU Pinukpuk to the Pantawid Pamilya program of the DSWD,” Lagayon said.
“Agyaman kami iti DSWD gapu ta naikkan kami iti gundaway nga agsasango a kas maysa nga pamilya. Saan me nga maar aramid ti kastoy nga agsasango iti inaldaw aldaw. Addu ti naadal me idjay da activities, ket dakkel nga tulong dagiyay tapnu mapa bileg me pi ti panagda danggay me a kas maysa nga pamilya (Thank you DSWD because we had the chance to mingle as a family. We seldom do this at home every day. We learned a lot from the activity, and those lessons are of great help to strengthen our family relationship),” Violeta Licayo of Taga, Pinukpuk, Kalinga said.
Aside from the learning sessions, the families also participated in games wherein the spirit of teamwork, solidarity, and motivation were instilled. The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) provided cash prizes and grocery items to the winners.
The activity is a joint collaboration of DSWD-CAR, Barangay & Municipal LGU-Pinukpuk, DA-CAR, Pinukpuk Elementary School, and the Philippine National Police. //Marlo C. Abyado, Jr., Information Officer
