Cordillera Administrative Region- Beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) with Euro Master Visa (EMV)  cash cards have started to receive their emergency subsidy under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) Bayanihan Fund: Tulong Laban sa COVID-19 since 6 April 2020. 

The total 59,396 household beneficiaries in the region includes 2,299 household beneficiaries under the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer or those validated members of the Indigenous Peoples and those in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas, and other 57,097 beneficiaries who are under the Regular Conditional Cash Transfer or those enumerated and validated through the Listahanan of the DSWD. 

In the region, the beneficiaries received PhP 4,150 as additional to their health grant (PhP 750) and rice subsidy (Php 600) amounting to PhP1,350 for the month of April to complete the Php 5,500 total emergency cash subsidy based on the regional minimum wage rate. However, the regular grant worth PhP 1,350 will be released during the regular payout for P1 (February to March 2020) which is scheduled within the month of April. 

“Proper coordination is being undertaken through our field staff with the LGUs at the barangay level to ensure that our beneficiaries abide to social distancing and other Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) health and safety protocols,” OIC Regional Director Leo Quintilla said.

Among the beneficiaries who received their subsidy is Sario Pacday, an Ibaloi farmer from Tublay, Benguet. The family of Pacday said that their source of income was affected by the declaration of the region-wide ECQ because of the  Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Dakkel nga tulong daytoy emergency cash subsidy karkaro tadta nga crisis. Apektado kami launay ditoy ili me ta saan min nga maibiyahe ti nateng me ijay trading post gapu ijay lockdown. Isunga baddeg ja iyaman me ti gobyerno (The emergency cash subsidy is a big help for us. We are affected here in our place because we cannot deliver our harvest to the trading post because of the lockdown. So we are very grateful for the assistance from the government),” Pacday happily shared.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries with no EMV cash cards or those who did not receive their cash assistance are encouraged to coordinate with their Municipal Links for the distribution of grants and other concerns. 

Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One” Act mandates the provision of the Social Amelioration Programs or SAP which are different government programs that aim to address the effects of the public health emergency due to COVID-19 on the economic and livelihood activities of 18 million low-income households nationwide. One of the SAP implemented under the DSWD is the provision of the Emergency Subsidy for 4Ps household beneficiaries.#

Cordillera Administrative Region- The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD FO CAR) assures the public that it remains committed to provide immediate and fair disaster augmentation efforts.

This is made even after the rise of demands for the Department to provide food and non-food relief assistance to communities affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We are doing our best to ensure that we are able to provide efficient service to our communities. Even before we received requests from our local government units, we have already prepared and prepositioned goods in the various provinces in the Region”, DSWD-CAR OIC Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

As part of the Response Cluster, the DSWD is mandated to provide augmentation support to various local government units in providing programs and services to individuals and families who have been affected by disaster or calamities for them to be able to withstand and recover from the impact of the incident. Considering Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code, the DSWD is mandated to provide technical assistance and resource augmentation to its local counterparts and other stakeholders in the form of capacity building trainings, learning exchange forum, and provision of relief commodities.

“The LGUs are expected to provide for the needs of their communities first. Once their resources are depleted, they can now request for augmentation from the DSWD FO CAR. Upon receipt of request and other necessary documents, we will review the request for possible augmentation. We will provide the request as they comply with our requirements and we have enough available goods”, Director Quintilla added.

As of 31 March 2020, the DSWD FO CAR is maintaining 11, 803 family food packs that are ready for augmentation. The Field Office also has a standby Quick Response Fund worth PhP 3,010,009.95.

Meanwhile, Director Quintilla underscored the importance of fairness in the provision of services following the receipt of reports on the alleged partiality during relief distribution.

“We appeal to all our partners and stakeholders to uphold fairness and honesty. We would also like to reiterate our core messages in the Department and that is serbisyong walang puwang sa katiwalian at patas na pagtrato sa komunidad.

We, in the DSWD, are doing our best to respond to your requests as fast as possible but please help us ensure that the rightful beneficiaries will receive what is due to them.

Efficient and fair service delivery could not be done by DSWD alone. This is a partnership among the local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations, the public, and the Department”, Director Quintilla added.

The DSWD FO CAR is in close coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in tapping the local government units to come up with the list of qualified beneficiaries. From the barangay officials, the municipal or city local government shall verify and validate the provided list.

Individuals who have queries and clarification are advised to coordinate with their respective local government officials. Concerns on local government officials can also be directed to the DILG.

As of 31 March 2020, around PhP 53, 272,748.75 worth of assistance have already been released. Of the amount, the DSWD FO CAR has provided PhP 3,085,617.75 worth of assistance, the LGUs with PhP 45,643,758.00 and PhP 4,531,418 from others. The DSWD FO CAR has also provided around PhP 230,000 worth assistance to families and individuals who have sought medical and burial assistance through its Crises Intervention Section (CIS). #DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

The MOP was signed in Camp Melchor F. dela Cruz, Gamu, Isabela and was witnessed by the officials of DSWD led by Usec. Glen Paje and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD FO CAR) entered into a Memorandum of Partnership (MOP) with the Philippine Army particularly the 5th Infantry Division stationed at Camp Melchor F. dela Cruz, Gamu, Isabela and the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division stationed at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on 13 March 2020.

Through the leadership of DSWD Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla, Major General Pablo M. Lorenzo of the 5th ID, and Major General Lenard T. Agustin of the 7th ID, the involved institutions have agreed to converge efforts to address the local armed conflict in the Region.

The MOP is expected to help in addressing local armed conflicts by ensuring that the disadvantaged communities that are more vulnerable to the threat of insurgency, are provided with Government services necessary for the improvement of their lives.

“Through our partnership with the Philippine Army, we believe that we can better organize our strategies in the implementation and delivery of social welfare services for us to provide better service to those who are really in need”, Director Quintilla said.

With the MOP, the DSWD and the Philippine Army shall actively coordinate in the prepositioning and delivery of social welfare and development programs such as but not limited to the Sustainable Livelihood Program, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services National Community Driven Development Program, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan Program, Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens, Supplementary Feeding Program.

This also furthers the earlier signed Memorandum of Cooperation between the DSWD FO CAR and 503rd Brigade of 5th ID which allows the temporary use of available structure within the camps in the region for storing and prepositioning of relief goods to ensure the prompt delivery of assistance to nearby affected communities during disasters.

“Through this strengthened partnership, we are able to enhance our response mechanisms to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic in our communities. In terms of mobility and distribution of food assistance, the Philippine Army has a great contribution in reaching our targets, especially those who are in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.

Also, we could not over emphasize the impact of the manpower compliment that they give during our relief operations from the preparation of food packs, delivery, and distribution. This is true not only for the Philippine Army, but to the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippine, Bureau of Fire Protection and other National Line Agencies.

This partnership is more than just ensuring that we are able to deliver our services. If we become successful on this endeavor, this might be the beginning of a better and more peaceful future for the Cordillera people.” Director Quintilla said.

The ceremonial signing was witnessed by DSWD Undersecretary Glen Paje, Brigadier General Laurence Mina, Brigadier General Henry Doyaoen, Colonel Audrey Pascua, DSWD FO II Regional Director Fernando de Villa Jr, and DSWD FO CAR Social Welfare Officer IV Libertine Balicdang. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

On 17 March 2020, the Department of Social Welfare Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD FO CAR) has activated its Quick Response Teams (QRT) including those in its Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Offices in the various provinces in the Region.

“This action is to intensify our efforts in response to the effects of COVID-19 in our communities here in the Cordilleras”, OIC-Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

Quintilla highlighted that this move is a proactive measure to ensure that the DSWD will be able to provide augmentation support once needed. He also said that the activation of the teams is expected to help in facilitating the operations of various offices in the region and in the provinces.

“We are doing our best to be as responsive as possible. We are in close coordination with our partners and other line agencies. Our personnel in the SWAD Offices are also actively participating in different measures implemented by our local government unit”, Director Quintilla added.

Under Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, all local government units are mandated to provide basic social services to various sectors in the communities. RA 7160 also states that the local government shall provide programs and projects including but not limited to evacuees and relief operations.

“The DSWD is ready to provide augmentation to our local government units in need of additional food packs and non-food items for relief operations but we highly encourage our local officials to fully utilize their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) and Quick Response (QR) funds. We will provide assistance to them upon the submission of request from the respective LGUs”, Director Quintilla added.

DSWD QRTs will be on duty from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm in the Field Office and SWAD Offices in the provinces.

Meanwhile, individuals in need of assistance are highly encouraged to coordinate with their local government officials. Concerns for DSWD FO CAR can be sent through (+6374) 661-04-30, +63917 871 9893 or +63919 065 5365 to 68, e-mail address focar@dswd.gov.ph or through our Facebook account at www.facebook.com/dswdfocar or Twitter account @dswdfocar.  # DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with local government units (LGUs), is set to provide family food packs and non-food items to families and individuals during the implementation of the community quarantine in Luzon due to COVID-19.

This is part of the DSWD’s Technical Assistance and Resource Augmentation (TARA) mandate to assist LGUs as they address the food and other basic requirements of their constituents in times of emergencies.

DSWD’s Field Offices (FOs) are now coordinating with LGUs in identifying target beneficiaries, distribution points, and strategies to be undertaken to ensure the smooth distribution of goods.

DSWD will also partner with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the hauling and delivery of the food packs and non-food items such as hygiene kits to LGUs.

The DSWD Central Office has a total of P1.3 billion Quick Response Fund (QRF), which can be replenished by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) once exhausted, to sustain the provision of food and other essential supplies to various communities.

Aside from food and non-food supplies, DSWD is now finalizing its guidelines for the provision of social amelioration services that would further benefit families and individuals affected by this health crisis.

The Department emphasized that it will continue to provide the delivery of maagap at mapagkalingang serbisyo to the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged, while putting premium to the health and safety of its beneficiaries and personnel in this time of public health emergency. ###

Following the issuance of a Department-wide guideline for the prevention, control, and mitigation of the spread of the COVID-19, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD FO CAR) will be implementing precautionary measures in the implementation of its programs and services.

“The DSWD FO CAR will continue serving the people while following protocols as prescribed by the health authorities. As we have done in the past, we will allow clients visiting our office upon taking their temperature while making necessary adjustments in our operations”, OIC- Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla shared.

In view of this, the Field Office will also be limiting the number of clients being served in its Crisis Intervention Section with a maximum of fifty (50) clients and thirty (30) clients in the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Offices in the provinces. Clients are also encouraged to wait for the advise on the availability of funds before proceeding to the DSWD or SWAD Office.

Furthermore, all payout activities and family development sessions (FDS) are temporarily suspended effective 14 March 2020.

Among the affected programs that have cancelled activities include:

1. Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program;
2. Social Pension Program;
3. Supplementary Feeding Program;
4. Unconditional Cash Transfer Program;
5. Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program;
6. Listahanan;
7. Emergency Shelter Assistance;
8. Sustainable Livelihood Program; and
9. Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP.

Activities requiring personal contact have also been highly discouraged. Gatherings with fifty persons and above are automatically rescheduled until further notice.

The Field Office also encourages the use of technology to minimize personal contact among its personnel and clients.

“We highly urge everyone to take advantage of technology. You can still reach our office through our e-mail, telephone or social media accounts”, Director Quintilla added.

The DSWD FO CAR can be reached through (+6374) 661-04-30, +63917 871 9893 or +63919 065 5365 to 68. Concerns can also be sent to focar@dswd.gov.ph or through our Facebook account at www.facebook.com/dswdfocar or Twitter account @dswdfocar.

“The DSWD FO CAR remains to be committed to its mandate to provide efficient and effective social welfare programs and services while being proactive and supportive to the efforts of the Government in controlling and mitigating the effects of COVID-19. We assure you that we will continue to provide the best service that we can give without compromising the health of our personnel and the people that we serve. We also ask for everybody’s cooperation and understanding until the COVID-19 situation becomes stable”, Director Quintilla said. # DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

Social workers of the DSWD under the ARRS are trained and committed to assist individuals and families who are willing to share their unconditional love to children available for adoption or foster care.

Cordillera Administrative Region- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here continues to promote unconditional love for children. This is in line with this year’s celebration of the Adoption Consciousness Month with the theme “Spreading Unconditional Love through Legal Adoption”.

“This February, we should not just focus on showing love for our partners, friends, and relatives but we can also celebrate love for the children who are most in need of our concern and affection-those who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. And we can do that through the Alternative Parental Care program”, DSWD-CAR OIC- Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

The Alternative Parental Care program is a child care or placement service provided to children in especially difficult circumstances who cannot be taken care of by their biological parents. This can be temporary and is called foster care that has the goal to provide temporary and planned substitute family care for the child while the biological family or relatives are being prepared for the child’s return or while a more appropriate permanent placement is being worked out. Kinship care and legal guardianship may also fall under foster care where as relatives and/or pre-identified individuals are given authority to look after the children. It also involves adoption that is a socio-legal process of giving a permanent home to a child whose parents have voluntarily given up their parental rights. This also gives the adopted child all the legal rights a biological child is mandated to have.

“Through the Alternative Parental Care, we are ensuring that the welfare and well-being of our children are being put first. This is because our social workers put in their best effort to look into the commitment, capacity, and compatibility of the prospective parents compared to the needs of the children. By going through the process, we are preparing not just the children, but the parents for a life-long journey of unconditional love”, Director Quintilla added.

In 2019, DSWD-CAR’s Adoption Resource and Referral Section (ARRS) was able to develop thirteen (13) prospective adoptive parents and twelve (12) foster parents.

“We would like to encourage individuals and couples who are interested to open their homes to our children to help us in spreading unconditional love. The DSWD-CAR is more than willing to assist you. We are also calling the attention of individuals who have simulated or tampered birth records to avail of the amnesty provided by the Simulated Birth Rectification Act ”, Director Quintilla said.

The Simulated Birth Rectification Act” or Republic Act (RA) No 11222 that was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on 21 February 2019 allows birth records to be corrected and provides amnesty to adoptive parents with children whose birth records have been simulated.

Birth simulation are cases in which the civil registry was tampered with to make it appear in a child’s birth record that he was born to someone other than his biological mother. Prior the passing of RA 11222, individuals who committed birth simulation are bound to face legal liabilities.

With the Act, amnesty from any criminal, civil, or administrative liability will only be given to adoptive parents if they changed the birth records “for the best interest of the child” and that the child has been consistently considered and treated as the parents’ own son or daughter.

The law also fixes the status and affiliation of the child whose birth was simulated by giving them all the benefits of adoption.

Meanwhile, the DSWD-CAR was able to place 72 children under foster care, endorse five (5) children for inter-country adoption, and give 20 Certification Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption that is a prerequisite for the adoption of these children.

“It may take a while, but undergoing the legal process will be worth it. Together, we can give our children, especially those in our facilities not just homes but families”, Director Quintilla said.

In observance of the celebration, the DSWD-CAR through its Adoption Resource and Referral Section has set-up Adoption Help Desks in SM City Baguio, Baguio Centermall and Maharlikha Complex on 22-23 February 2020.

Meanwhile, interested individuals may visit DSWD-CAR Adoption Resource and Referral Section at #40 North Drive, Baguio City or contact (074) 661-04-30 loc.25003 or (02) 396-65-80. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

“Nagasat kami kas maysa nga benepisyaryo ti Pantawid ta nakatulong daytoy iti panagbiyag me, karkaro idi tiyempo nga agkasapulan kami launay (We are blessed as beneficiary of the Pantawid [Pamilya program] because this greatly helped us in our most difficult times),” George Tiwang emotionally shared as he reminisced how grateful they are when they became Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary. 

George, 58, is a solo parent from Barangay Luplupa, Tinglayan, Kalinga. He lost his wife in 2004 and has raised his six children alone ever since.

A former  member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), George looked back on how gloomy their life was as he and his children bravely faced the struggles in life.

His family’s struggles

George’s wife, Romana, died in 2004 due to colon cancer. He recalled how  they struggled to fight for Romana’s life. George would leave the children to his mother to accompany his wife in Bontoc, Mt. Province to receive medication

The family never imagined that such illness would fall on Romana. After several medical tests from severe stomach pain, it was discovered that cysts formed in her stomach and were found malignant. In an attempt to cure the disease, Romana underwent two medical operations.

The situation brought tremendous fear to the family especially when they had no stable source of income. The family only cultivates a small farm and income from such was  not enough for their needs.

George hoped that his wife would survive. Unfortunately, after two weeks of confinement after the second operation, Romana succumbed to the disease.

Grief and fear engrossed George and his family as with the loss of their loved one, the uncertainty of their future dawns in.

But this was not the end yet. A year after, his second child, Noemi, who was then in first year high school was diagnosed with epilepsy. George was surprised with the diagnosis because he thought he raised his daughter healthily. Since then, George had to bring Noemi to the hospital monthly and spend more than PhP 3, 000 a month, almost equivalent to his monthly salary as CAFGU. He then decided to quit as a member of CAFGU to take care of her daughter and other children.

Despite the unified conviction of the family that Noemi could survive, sadly, she passed away in March 2019 due to complications.

Since then, the bereaved family was challenged to overcome the gloom that life brings them.

Thriving from struggles

Faith in God was the foundation of the family from the abyss of struggles. They coupled this with combined efforts to continue their lives while ensuring that every family member is healthy. George decided to stay as a solo parent and focused on raising his children.

In 2009, they were included as beneficiaries of the program, a blessing that would bring hope to their family.

George was thankful because at that moment, he badly needed additional income to support the studies of his eldest, Georgina, aside from the monthly medication of her late daughter, Noemi.

“Dakkel nga blessing daytoy nga programa iti pamilya me. Makatul tulong diyay kwarta iti kasapulan dagiyay ubbing ijay eskwelaan da, ken maad addal me met ti kina-importante ti pamilya manipud ijay binulan nga Family Development Sessions (The program is a blessing to our family. The cash grant is a big help to my children’s school needs, and we learned the value of a family through the monthly Family Development Sessions),” George exclaimed.

According to George, the monthly FDS of the program strengthened their faith in God. The lessons and testimonies they heard from their fellow beneficiaries made them stronger and closer as a family.

Aside from the cash grant. the family also produces varieties of vegetables for food consumption in their small farm. They also sell some of it for additional income.

With perseverance and dedication, Georgina finished a Commerce degree in 2014. She worked as an apprentice in a technology company in Baguio City. With her good skills, she was recommended as factory worker in Pampanga, and later was endorsed as factory worker in Dubai, up to this date. Georgina then earned a living for their family and supported her younger siblings.

Sonia, the third child graduated with a Criminology degree and is hopeful to become a Fire Officer. The fourth child, Calleb, took a vocational course. Prescilla, Gina and Jacob, the fifth, sixth, and last child, respectively, all excel in their academic performances. Gina and Jacob are the monitored children of the Pantawid Pamilya and they maintain 100% attendance to school.

Keeping the family together

Aside from building a strong faith in God, George inculcated to his children the value of education. His fifth child Prescilla shared that her father instills to them the value of responsibility and obedience.

“Papa always reminds us to study well and avoid doing unruly things. If he observed that we are hard-headed, he talked to us seriously and in a nice way. He also reminds us to not engage in romantic relationships yet, because that can wait,” Prescilla happily shared.

Meanwhile, St. Theresita’s High School of Tinglayan, Inc. recognized George as a model father for his unconditional love, patience, and kindness to his children and to the community.

As a model family of Kalinga, Tiwang family advocates for environmental protection. George shared that waste segregation, establishment and maintenance of toilets, and backyard gardening as a source of nutritious and safe vegetables are the important lessons they learned from the monthly Family Development Sessions. His children also advocate for planting trees as one way of caring for the environment.

The family continues to live as a good example to the community by complying with the conditions of the program while actively participating in community activities. George acknowledged that they still have a long way to become a resilient family but he attested that he is happy with the achievements of her children. With his guidance and support of her eldest daughter, he is confident that his younger children will achieve their aspirations in life.

The family of George Tiwang hopes that other families can learn from their story that there is always hope amidst the struggles as long as each family member stays to thrive as one. ## DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit,  Marlo C. Abyado, Jr., Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer, with Lorna Lumioan, Kalinga Social Welfare Officer III