Cordillera Administrative Region- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  here has provided assistance to some 609 families composed of 2,183 individuals due to the heavy rains brought about by TY Quiel which resulted to flooding in Apayao and in some areas is Luzon.

This is as of 7PM of 9 November 2019.

The families assisted were all from the Province of Apayao. Most of the assisted were from Flora town with 210 families composed of 724 individuals, followed by Sta. Marcela with 176 families composed of 642 individuals, Luna with 107 families composed of 339 individuals, Pudtol with 60 families with 237 individuals, Kabugao with 49 families composed of 175 individuals and Conner with 16 families composed of 66 individuals. 

A total of 700 food packs were already provided by the DSWD. Of these, 300 were allocated to Sta Marcela, 200 to Flora, 100 each for Luna and Pudtol. 155 boxes of ready to eat food and 300 sleeping kits were also provided. 

The assistance provided were family food packs, ready to eat food and sleeping kits amounting to around PhP 356,346.50. 

Meanwhile the local government unit (LGU) of Apayao has also provided assistance amounting to PhP 661,816.00.

“Through our Social Welfare and Development Office in Apayao, we are closely working with our LGU counterparts to ensure that we are able to provide the necessary augmentation to serve the affected families. We will continue to do so until the necessary.” OIC DSWD-CAR Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said. 

A total of 663 families composed of 2,365 individuals have been affected and are being monitored by the DSWD and the LGUs. #DSWD-CAR, NERIZZA FAYE G. VILLANUEVA 

*This is a developing story. Updates will be done as necessary.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD CAR) – Around 68,004 households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the region will be assessed by the NHTS-PR or Listahanan this October.

To ensure that all 4Ps beneficiaries are assessed during the conduct of the Listahanan Third Round of Household Assessment, the National Household Targeting Office (NHTO), together with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) National Program Management Office (NPMO) developed a set of guidelines that will be utilized for the assessment. 

“Considering the use of Listahanan database of poor households in the identification of Pantawid PamilyangPilipino program beneficiaries, there is a need to deliberately ensure that Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries are assessed for the continuation of services provided to them.”, OIC- Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

Under the guidelines, Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries shall be asked to present their Pantawid ID for verification during the interview. In case the ID is lost, missing or unavailable, the Oath of Commitment may be presented. If the Pantawid beneficiary cannot present their ID or Oath of Commitment, the information shall be supplied by the assigned City/Municipal Link and shall be indicated in the Household Assessment Log (HAL). The HAL is a list of all the households visited and interviewed. 

Pantawid beneficiaries who remain unassessed after three visits from the Listahanan field workers will be recorded in the HAL with the corresponding remarks.

“We have already informed our City Links, Municipal Links and Parent Leaders to assist Listahanan field staff during the conduct of the household assessment. We have also informed our beneficiaries regarding the assessment during their Family Development Sessions.” PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Regional Program Coordinator Fatima D. Florendo said.

The National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or Listahanan is an information management system that employs geographic targeting, household assessment, and validation in order to provide national government agencies, development partners, and other social protection actors with information on who and where the poor are in the country. The system guarantees the establishment and management of a national socio-economic database of poor households using a globally-accepted method.

Listahanan enables government organizations and agencies to accurately and objectively identify poor households to serve as potential beneficiaries for their poverty reduction programs.#DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Mark Erik

CAR- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here condoles with the families of the victims of the vehicular accident that occurred in Conner, Apayao on 31 October 2019.

The incident happened after a truck with 43 passengers fell off the ravine in Sitio Gassud, Brgy. Karikitan, Conner, Apayao.

DSWD through its Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) office in Apayao has already taken intial actions to respond to the needs of the victims and their families.

“PQRT Apayao is hereby activated to respond to a vehicular accident in Conner, Apayao.

Based on early report, 19 are dead however only 1 is confirmed to be from Conner and 21 were injured, 4 of which are confirmed to be from Conner. SWAD and [Municipal Action Teams] MATs are directed to assess the assistance needed by the victims- medical, burial and transport.” DSWD-CAR OIC Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

Director Quintilla also directed the personnel to set up a DSWD desk in hospital.

As of 10 am of 1 November 2019, 11 injured victims are in Conner District Hospital while 10 are in Cagayan Valley Hospital.

“DSWD-CAR will continue its coordination with concerned agencies to ensure that the victims and their families will be served.” Director Quintilla added. #

Cordillera Administrative Region – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here has inaugurated three newly renovated facilities, two of which were improved under its Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCF) Project.

The CRCF Project which aims to build client-responsive facilities was first implemented by the Department in 2017 with a budget of around P603 million. Back then, the amount was only sufficient to cover the basic repairs in the facilities. In 2018, the Project’s funding was increased to P2.3 billion covering 210 infrastructure projects in the country.

In the region, the Project started in 2018. A year after its implementation, DSWD-CAR has inaugurated the Regional Haven for Women and Girls (Regional Haven) and the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) on October 14, 2019. The Regional Training Center was also inaugurated on the said date.

The inauguration was graced by DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista who gave his assurance on the readiness of the Department to extend help to those in need.

The Regional Haven is a residential facility that provides alternative family home care to girls and women who are survivors of abuse, exploitation, neglect or violence. It also serves as a temporary shelter for clients needing protective custody and psychosocial interventions. Currently, the center caters to nine residents.

On the other hand, RRCY serves as a nurturing out-of-home placement for children in conflict with the law who are in need of intensive treatment for the rehabilitation and final reintegration into his family and community. Seven residents are currently availing the services of RRCY.

Meanwhile, the Regional Training Center is currently being used for the conduct of various institutional development and capability building activities. It also equipped with a dormitory which is expected to accommodate transients later this year.

DSWD-CAR OIC Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla encouraged strong collaboration among the stakeholders for better service delivery.
“Let us use these facilities as our jump board to provide enhanced service to clients who are in need and continue our efforts to work together in providing the necessary interventions for the rehabilitation and reintegration of our residents,” Director Quintilla said.

Aside from the said facilities, the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) located in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet is still under construction. Completion of the center is expected within December 2019.

RSCC is a 24-hour residential care facility for 0-6-year-old children. It provides protection and rehabilitation services through temporary residential care to neglected, abandoned, abused, exploited children, and those with special needs.

Individuals who are in need of the said services from the centers can coordinate with the DSWD-CAR through its Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Teams in their respective provinces or at #40 North Drive, Baguio City or through (074) 661-04-30 or (02) 396-65-80.

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 

Cordillera Administrative Region- As of 11 September 2019, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here through its Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (Social Pension) has identified 74,101 senior citizens eligible to receive the stipend amounting to PhP 500.00 a month as stipulated in Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

This is out of the 85,047 target social pensioners in the Region.

“Earlier this year, we have started the validation of our social pensioners. Our personnel conducted one on one validation to the senior citizens”, OIC- Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

The result of the validation was forwarded to the DSWD Central Office for cross-matching with other pension-providing institutions.

Department Memorandum Circular 04, Series of 2019 reiterates that only senior citizens who are frail, sickly or with disability, and does not receive pension from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefits Association, Inc. (AFPMBAI), the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), and other insurance institutions are qualified to be included in the program.

Senior citizens who do not receive any regular support from family/ relatives or do not have a permanent source of income are also considered for the program.

“This cleansing aims to further improve our service delivery. We hope that through this, we will be able to serve those who are really in need. We would also like to ask for your understanding. For those who are found to be ineligible but are still in need, we still have other programs that you can avail of as long as you qualify and comply with the existing guidelines”, Director Quintilla shared.

A total of 59,822 social pensioners have already received their stipend for the 2nd quarter of 2019. Eligible social pensioners who did not receive their stipend due to various reasons can still claim their stipends during the scheduled 2nd semester payout in their respective municipalities. Meanwhile, those who are still for validation need to wait for the result which will be downloaded by the Central Office.

DSWD-CAR is also working closely with the DSWD Central Office on the additional funds for the payment of the 4th quarter of 2018 grant of around 19,000 social pensioners in the region.

Meanwhile, Social Pension stipends will now be released every semester. For the 2nd semester, payouts will commence on October 2019. Pensioners are expected to receive PhP 3,000.00 which will cover their assistance for the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2019.

“We would like to assure our social pensioners that we are doing our best to facilitate the release of their stipends. We would also encourage you to help us in this endeavor. Our office is open to your reports, feedbacks, or comments”, Director Quintilla added.

Concerns on the Social Pension Program may also be directed to the Field Office at # 40 North Drive, Baguio City or through (074) 661 0430 or www.facebook.com/dswdfocar. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

Eight (8) community-based organizations from the Cordillera Administrative Region were recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development during the 5th BAYANi Ka!
Awards held in Butuan City on August 13, 2019.

The organizations has been active partners of DSWD in the implementation of the Kapit-bisig Laban Sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS). Kalahi-CIDSS is an anti-poverty program of the department which uses thecommunity-driven development approach to empower communities, to reduce poverty, and improve local governance.

The BAYANi Ka! Awards is an annual recognition event for program partners who showed
exemplary dedication in the implementation KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP by putting their bayan
(community) first before themselves (i).

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

There are also two organizations in Pudtol, Apayao that were recognized 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 was acknowledged under
the Sustained Community Volunteers Group category while the Senior Citizens of Barangay
Quidaoen of San Juan, Abra was awarded as BAYANi under the elderly category.

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista lauded the BAYANi Ka! Awardees for their
selfless service to their communities. He added that with the 600,000 community volunteers
around the country, the department is assured that the sub-projects built through Kalahi-
CIDSS will benefit of most of the community members.

Meanwhile as part of the National Community Volunteers’ Congress which followed the
BAYANi Ka! Awarding on August 14 and 15, participants from the 15 Regions covered by
Kalahi-CIDSS visited communities in Surigao Del Sur and Agusan Del Norte that
implemented Kalahi-CIDSS.

The participants shared their common and unique experiences in implementing a
community-driven development program through a focused group discussions with fellow
community volunteers in the municipalities of Carmen, Agusan Del Norte, and in San
Agustin, Barobo and Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur. They also visited sub-projects implemented
in the said municipalities.

After the activities, Community Volunteer Roger Garcia from Kapangan, Benguet reflected
that Kalahi-CIDSS should be continued as a program of DSWD since it has helped so many
communities. “Based on what I saw and heard during the event, the [Kalahi-CIDSS]
implements projects that are needed by the communities,” he added.

Garcia also agreed with Surigao Del Sur Representative Johnny T. Pimentel who said during
his inspirational message that the process of implementing projects should start from the
bottom to top and not the other way around; to ensure that projects will really benefit the
communities. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Jasmin Kiaso

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