Baguio City- The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD-CAR) through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program-Regional Program Management Office signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Agriculture (DA)-CAR to converge in the implementation of Gulayan sa Barangay for the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in the region on August 6, 2019 at the DA-CAR Conference Hall, Baguio City.

Anchored on DA’s thrust to increase food production and ensure safe food availability and affordability to people, the Gulayan sa Barangay project aims to encourage individuals, families and communities of Pantawid Pamilya to implement community gardening activities that will eventually promote food production at the household and community level and ensure provision of access to fresh, organically produced food.

The new partnership with DA-CAR aims to strengthen and enhance the implementation of Gulayan sa Barangay of the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries of DSWD-CAR who started their backyard garden as early as 2017. This initiative will eventually contribute the improvement of the overall health of the Pantawid beneficiaries in the region.

“This collaboration with DA seeks to ensure the sustenance and quality of vegetable production among our poor communities in the region. It will also strengthen the participation of our communities to take part in the production of nutritious and economically viable vegetables. The success of this project relies on our concerted efforts,” DSWD-CAR OIC Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

As part of the MOA, the DA-CAR will provide technical assistance and training support to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries during Family Development Sessions at the municipal and barangay levels. As the prime implementer of agriculture and fishery program in the region, DA-CAR is tasked for the promotion of agricultural and fisheries development and growth, provides policy framework, public investment, and support services needed for domestic and export-oriented business.

Department of Agriculture-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey said, “We are challenged by the geographic terrain and the distance of the communities, but through this partnership, we hope that we can reach those communities that really need livelihood assistance in terms of agriculture. We also enjoin the involvement of our local government units and other line agencies in this initiative so that we can develop our communities economically and sustainably.”

The DA attached agencies like Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-CAR and Bureau of Plant Industry-Baguio National Crop Research Development and Production Support Center (BPI-BNCRDPSC) were also present during the MOA signing. The ATI-CAR is tasked to provide capability building and complementary extension activities such as technical assistance to Pantawid beneficiaries, while BPI-BNCRDPSC will provide technical assistance and coordination to the project, as deemed necessary.

Pantawid Pamilya Regional Program Coordinator Fatima Florendo furthered, “the Gulayan sa Barangay project is anchored on the Sustainable Development Goal 2, to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. This project is also based on DSWD’s National Advisory Committee Resolution No. 38 Series of 2016: Enjoining Pantawid Pamilya partner beneficiaries to Engage in Backyard/Communal/Container Gardening.”

As of April 25, 2019, there are 31,375 Household (HH) beneficiaries engaged in Gulayan sa Barangay in the Cordillera with Apayao and Benguet provinces topped the most number of HH beneficiaries engaging in the project. There are about 1,414 established community and school-based Gulayan sa Burangay in the region.

Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries as project partners present during the MOA signing received variety of vegetable seeds and hose (for irrigation) from DA-CAR through its Regional High Value Development Program to supplement their communal garden production.

“Agyamyaman kami iti daytoy a programa ta babaen ti DSWD ken DA, mamintinar me ti bassit nga garden ti Pantawid nga grupo me idjay ili me. Daytoy inted da nga bukel ken hose ket umunay nga pangsuposop me idjay gulayan me (We are thankful for the program through DSWD and DA because we can now maintain our small farm in our place. The crop seeds and hose they gave us will surely supplement our needs in our communal garden),” Danelia Toyoken Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary from Sagada, Mt. Province said. ### Marlo C. Abyado, Jr., Information Officer II

Cordillera Administrative Region– As of 13 August 2019, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here has provided assistance amounting to PhP 138,220.76 worth of assistance to families due to the disturbances affecting the region.

The DSWD here is currently monitoring 89 families composed of 266 individuals that have been affected by the enhanced monsoon rains and tornado that occurred in Abra province.

Of the number 14 families with 59 individuals are from Bucloc and San Isidro in Abra and 75 families with 207 individuals are from Itogon and Mankayan in Benguet.

“We are continuously working with our partner local governments in monitoring the affected communities. Our personnel are on duty to provide interventions if necessary”, OIC- Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

Meanwhile, the DSWD Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (FOCAR) and Regional Resource Operations Section (RROS) and Satellite Warehouses have stockpiles and standby funds amounting to PhP 40,679,691.20. The said amount includes Family Food Packs (FFPs) amounting to ₱5,694,856.60, Food and Non-food Items (FNIs) amounting to ₱26,760,287.65 and other Food Items amounting to ₱5,532,741.00 that are available for the region’s emergency needs. Additional standby funds amounting to a total of PhP 2,691,805.95 is also available.

Regional Resource Operations Section maintains a total of 15,262 family food packs (FFPs) readily available for distribution. Of which, 76 FFPs are prepositioned in Social Welfare and Development Office (SWAD) -Abra, 150 in SWAD-Ifugao, 500 in 54^th Infantry Division, Paracelis, 600 FFPs in 1502^nd Maneuver Company in Tadian, Mountain Province, 700 FFPs in 50^th Infantry Brigade in Pinukpuk, Kalinga and 700 FFPs in 503^rd Brigade, Philippine Army, Tabuk City, Kalinga. #

Aside from the family food packs, the DSWD has available 1,526 family kits, 982 hygiene kits, and 3,655 sleeping kits that can be distributed if necessary.

The DSWD is also ready to provide technical assistance on camp coordination and camp management to the local social welfare and development offices with identified evacuation centers. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

Baguio City- The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD-CAR) here again recognized partner beneficiaries who showed outstanding examples of positive Filipino values during this year’s Regional Search for Huwarang Pamilya and Exemplary Children on August 1, 2019 at the Eurotel Hotel, Baguio City.

For the second year, the Province of Apayao emerged as grand winners for both searches. The family of Rosalie Tactac of Sta. Marcela, Apayao bested other families from other provinces of the region. The family lives and struggles from poverty but they religiously manage to get by with hard work and cooperation.

Rosalie is a barangay health worker and an active member of the community and is known as ‘Inang ng Bayan’ because of her active involvement in community activities. Oscarlito, her husband, is a farmer, a former Barangay Kagawad. Rosalie and Oscarlito are parents to five children. The family manages a small plantation of banana, cassava, and vegetables as their source of livelihood.

Tactac family is also known for being guided by their own definition of FAMILY as Forgiveness, Acceptance, Mediator, Industrious, Love and Yahweh.

The Tactac family is grateful for the Pantawid Pamilya Program because it helped them especially on the needs of their children to school. “Nagpapasalamat po kami sa 4Ps. Dahil sa buwanang Family Development Session (FDS), kami ay naging aktibo sa mga aktibidad ng barangay bilang miyembro ng komunidad (We are thankful for the 4Ps. Because of the monthly FDS we became active to the activities of the barangay as members of the community,” said Oscarlito.

On the other hand, the family of Melchor and Agustina Bantiloc of Baguio City, and Julie Salomie and Bernan Wallang family of Besao, Mountain Province bagged the first and second runner-up, respectively. While Arthur Sr. and Senny Matso Family from Bakun, Benguet claimed the runner-up. Other finalists were the family of Mercy and Danilo Abquiren from Abra, family of Adeline and Robert Ehican from Ifugao, and George and Romana Tiwang Family of Kalinga.

Meanwhile, Christian Kyle Balinan of Sta. Marcela, Apayao was named as the 2019 Pantawid Exemplary Child. Christian, 13 years old and grade 8 consistent honor student of Sta. Marcela National High School aspires to become a successful agricultural engineer someday. Christian shows perseverance and positive outlook in life as he serves a good model to the youth as testified by his teachers and neighbors. He helps his family in maintaining a small farm and raising ducks.

Christian also maintains 100% of attendance to school as one of the criteria for the search aside from being an active student in school, at home and in the community. Christian furthered that the program helped them live comfortably especially their needs in school. He believes that ‘Kapag may sipag at tiyaga, may nilaga’.

Runners-up were Celestine Halen Paddapad of Hungduan, Ifugao and Odessa Alipio of Sabangan, Mt. Province. Other finalists were Gracelyn Carpio of Benguet, Joyce Ann Pinera of Abra, Jairah Mae Gupa-al of Kalinga and  Krezzle Anne Suclad of Baguio City.

The top three winners for both searches were awarded with cash prizes and plaques. All the finalists also received consolation cash prizes and certificates of recognition.

Prior to the regional search, the DSWD’s Provincial and Municipal Operations Offices selected the household and children beneficiaries who represented the different provinces in the Cordillera during the provincial searches where field validation and home visits were conducted.

To ensure the quality of the regional winners, DSWD invited panel of judges from the regional partner agencies and Civil Society Organizations-partners of the Department.  Dr. Anachris Kilakil from the Department of Health-CAR, Mary Ann Bungag of Baguio-Benguet Community Credit Cooperative, Ms. Cariza Natalie Ramos of Saint Paul University Philippines Community Development Center Foundation, Inc., and Ms. Maria Elaine Labasan of DSWD-CAR composed the judges.

Now on its seventh year, the search for Huwarang Pamilya and Exemplary Children is conducted annually as a platform to showcase the success stories of family and children beneficiaries who maintain strong family ties, demonstrate positive Filipino values in the household, school, and have a positive impact in the community where they reside.

“The winning families and children will help in the advocacy efforts of the program including promoting the value of health and education in poverty alleviation and fighting against gender-based discrimination and gender-based violence in the families and communities,” DSWD-CAR OIC- Regionaa Director Leo Quintilla said.

The family of Rosalie Tactac and Christian Kyle Balinan will represent the region for the National Huwarang Pamilya and Exemplary Children title slated in November this year. ### Marlo C. Abyado, Jr., Information Officer II

Cordillera Administrative Region- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here through its National Household Targeting Section (NHTS) intensifies its preparations for the third round of household assessment among poor households or the Listahanan 3 in the region. As early as June 2019, the NHTS has announced the beginning of the preparatory phase of the assessment that includes deployment planning, information dissemination, coordination with the local government units, procurement, conduct of capacity building activities and hiring of personnel.

As of 5 August 2019, the DSWD has started with the hiring process through the conduct of interviews. In the Province of Benguet including Baguio City, more than 400 applicants for enumerators trope to the DSWD-CAR Training Center, of which only 81 will be hired for the prosition in the Province. For Abra, 75 enumerators will be hired, 33 in Apayao, 57 in Ifugao, 58 in Kalinga, and 46 in Mountain Province. Enumerators will be hired to conduct the house to house assessment to some 272,000 target households in CAR.

In the region, Listahanan will be hiring a total of 380 field staff that includes area coordinators, area supervisors, and enumerators. One hundred fifty-three (153) staff are needed for office works that will include encoders and validators. The training of more than 400 field workers will start this September.

“CAR has the least number of target households in the country but with the region’s geographical structure, our field staff will likely have a challenging time reaching every household that is why we ask everyone’s cooperation for the assessment,” DSWD-CAR OIC-Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

The data collection and analysis phase is expected to start by October 2019. During this time, the hired field staff will be deployed in their specific areas to conduct the household assessment in close coordination with the NHTS.

Listahanan otherwise known as the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in the country. By providing a unified criteria, it makes the database of poor households available as basis for identifying potential beneficiaries of social protection programs and services. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Mark Erik King Guanzon

SABANGAN, Mountain Province – “While it’s an income generating, our mission is to protect our forest and watersheds at the same time help the community’s economy,” shared Ernesto Bondad, Coordinator of the Mt. Kalawitan-Apa Guides Association.

In 2017, the Mt. Kalawitan-Apa Guides Association was organized and registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) primarily to provide employment to the out-of-school youth in their community and to contribute in the preservation and conservation of the community’s watershed and the vast forestland.

Mt. Kalawitan-Apa Guides Association is situated in Brgy. Losad, Sabangan, Mountain Province. The association is composed of 15 guides who are all men.

“Yes, we call ourselves guides but we were not trained on the proper guiding especially on the tourists safety,” Ernesto added.

Before, the association cannot operate properly due to financial constraints, untrained guides and lack of equipment.

In March 2018, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) granted the Mt. Kalawitan-Apa Guides Association the amount of PhP 308,040.00 for skills training on local tour guiding to learn the proper coordination of itinerary for tourists and make souvenir items.

In partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) of Mountain Province, the participants underwent a 10-day training on Local Tour Guiding and a 3-day Basic Life Support conducted by the Local Government of Sabangan’s Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP).

“After the training, all of our 15 guides were assessed and accredited as local guides of TESDA,” Ernesto shared.

Since then, the group has found loyal customers for their tour packages. Some are local and others are foreigners like American tourists visiting the province. For over a year of running the association, the members see the progress of their tour guiding livelihood project.

“Our guides have been trained extensively by the different government agencies. We don’t deploy untrained guides and our primary concern is always the safety of our tourist. So far, there was never an incident despite the risky terrain of our mountains. “ he added.

The association also wants to help in the development of the community in a manner that they actively participate in promoting the local products of the village such as weaved products, arabica coffee, mountain tea, and other local products of Sabangan. In addition, they invite high school students to perform cultural dances during tours.

“These are purely students coming from the different schools of the community who are trained to perform cultural dances during the departure time of tourist, then we pay them P1,500 to 2,000 and in other times, guests provide other educational assistances to them,” Ernesto added.

Along with the tour guiding and contributing in the development of the community, they also contribute in education development particularly in the work emersion requirement of Department of Education (DepEd).

“Lately we had two groups of senior high school students who spent 10 (80 hours) days emersion. They were tasked to construct landscape structures at the Associations’ office here at barangay Losad, Sabangan”, he said.

The association’s mission continues not just in enhancing opportunities for local economic growth and improving the quality of life of residents, but they are the guides safeguarding the opportunities for future generations by ensuring the sustainable co-existence of tourism and environment. #DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, Babble Mae Gorio

Eight (8) community volunteers who served under the DSWD’s Kapit-bisig Laban Sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) will represent the region in the upcoming 3^rd National Community Volunteers Congress and 5^th National BAYANi Ka! Awards to be held in Butuan City on August 13-15.

The National Community Volunteers’ Congress is a gathering of exceptional community volunteers and leaders from the 14 regions where Kalahi-CIDSS National Community-Driven Development have been implemented.

It is a venue for the participants to share their experiences and learn from each other’s strategies in implementing a community-driven development program.  Aside from the focused group discussions with the municipal local government units of Agusan Del Norte and Surigao Del Sur, they are set to visit Kalahi-CIDSS sub-projects in the said municipalities.

The sharing of community volunteers is also intended to help enrich and improve the practice and implementation of community-driven development across the country.

On the other hand, the BAYANi Ka! Awards is a recognition event for program partners who showed exemplary dedication in the implementation KALAHI CIDSS NCDDP by putting their bayan (community) first before themselves (i).

The eight community volunteers are from the eight community groups who won during the BAYANi Ka! Regional Search conducted by DSWD-CAR in 2018.

Four community-based organizations in Kapangan, Benguet namely Cayapes Kapangan Irrigators Association Incorporated, Barangay Sub-project Management Committee of Pudong Kapangan, Cayapes Womens Organization and Datakan Women’s Brigade took the pride of being the BAYANi for improved local governance, indigenous peoples welfare, gender and development, and peace promotion, respectively.

Two organizations in Pudtol, Apayao emerged as winners under the BAYANi Ka! for Environmental Protection, and Youth category. These are the San Jose Upland Farmers’ Association and Amkiland Youth Organization.

Further, the Natubleng Ladies Association of Buguias, Benguet won under the Sustained Community Volunteers Gorupn category while the Senior Citizens of Barangay Quidaoen of San Juan, Abra was awarded as BAYANi under the elderly category. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Jasmin Kiaso

Water also became readily available to households after the completion of the the Communal Irrigation System

In farming communities that rely heavily on the rains in growing their crops, a simple improvement in their irrigation system could change their lives for the better.

Just like in many farming communities in the lowland areas in the Province of Abra, Barangay Tangadan, San Quintin produce crops depending on the season.

Farmers who cannot afford water pumps wait for the rainy season before they could plant rice. Consequently, they leave their farms unproductive in the summer. For farmers who own water pumps can plant all year round. They grow vegetables or tobacco during the summer and plant rice come the rainy season.

When a chance to improve their production came knocking to them, “the community saw it as an opportunity to address our problem on low farm production during the dry season,” says incumbent Punong Barangay Geronimo Pajara.

When the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) was introduced to the barangay back in 2011, the community identified a fuel-generated communal irrigation system as their top priority need.

Kalahi-CIDSS is an anti-poverty reduction program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that uses the community-driven development strategy to empower poor communities.

After a series of consultations, residents of Barangay Tangadan decided to propose an irrigation system that would benefit the most affected farmers in the barangay.

“Without a good irrigation system, watering the plants may not be done on time which will lead to lower yield. Irrigating the farms later than its supposed schedule affects the quality and quantity of products and the time of its harvest,” Pajara continued.

Fortunately, their project proposal was prioritized and soon after, the community found themselves implementing the project. “The residents were really delighted when they heard about the news,” exclaimed Pajara who was a community volunteer at that time.

In 2012, the communal irrigation system was successfully completed. Since then, the community enjoyed the ease of irrigating their farms.

The two-in-one innovation

During a visit to the barangay, the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS team discovered an improvement in the communal irrigation system. The system is not only used for irrigation now, but it also supplies water for the households in the barangay.

“Since we had savings from our operation and maintenance fund, the barangay decided to get an electricity connection with ABRECO and buy an electric water pump to upgrade the communal irrigation system,” Pajara narrated.

Originally, the project was fuel-generated but after it was upgraded into an electric-generated irrigation system, the volume of water it generated increased thus it can also supply enough water for domestic uses.

The barangay then installed tapping points near the main settlement. Pajara said that residents bought their own hoses so they can connect from designated tapping points.  “The residents’ counterpart is to buy their own hoses or pipes for the water to reach their houses,” he added.

In addition, the barangay also established a payment system for their electric bill. “We have designated an officer to collect payments from each household,” Pajara continued. The collection officer keeps the records of payment and is responsible in paying their bill to ABRECO. As compensation to the work, the collection officer is exempted from paying his/her electric bill as compensation to the collection officer’s work, he/she is exempted from paying

For Lilibeth Valdez, the improvements in their water system enabled her to start a livelihood to have an additional income for her family. “I started raising pigs since there was enough water to clean the pig pens. My electric bill is twice higher than those who do not raise animals, but it is definitely worth it,” she explained.

She added that back when their water system was not yet improved she used to order for water delivery which is more expensive than what she pays now. “We used to stock water good for one week, but now we can just open the faucet when we do house chores,” she said. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Jasmin Kiaso

Cordillera Administrative Region- The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region through its Crisis Intervention Section has extended its assistance to the families of the individuals involved in the vehicular accident that happened in Aguinaldo, Ifugao on 24 July 2019.

The accident left three (3) injured and seven (7) deceased individuals, four (4) of which belong to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. The individuals were accordingly on their way to attend a relative’s burial in Aguinaldo while some were going to Alfonso Lista’s market day, when the vehicle allegedly encountered a mechanical failure.  

“We are deeply saddened learning about the accident, more so that it involved our beneficiaries. We would like to extend our condolences to the families. We would also like to assure them that we would continue working with our partners to assist them during this trying time”, DSWD-CAR OIC-Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said. 

As of 25 July 2019, the Department has already provided around PhP 175,000.00 worth of burial assistance for the deceased victims, PhP 16,500.00 educational assistance to the children involved and PhP 3,000.00 food assistance to the watcher of a casualty still in the hospital. 

The Local Government Unit has also provided assistance amounting to PhP 45,000.00 to cover the ritual and ecumenical services of the deceased. 

“Our social workers have already referred the victims and their families for psychosocial interventions. We also pray that the families would recover from this trial.”, Director Quintilla added. 

The DSWD, through the Crisis Intervention Section (CIS), provides immediate assistance to clients in distress caused by accidents, natural calamities, sudden loss of job or other unforeseen circumstances which leaves the families or individuals in crisis situation. Social workers assess the victims for appropriate interventions which may include burial, educational, transportation, medical, food, and financial assistance. They also provide psychosocial interventions that may help improve the well-being of the clients.

Individuals who are in need of these services may visit the nearest Local Social Welfare and Development Office or DSWD Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Office in their area or call (074) 661 0430 to reach the CIS located at #40 North Drive, Baguio City. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva