La Trinidad, Benguet – One hundred forty five (145) student beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program participated in the first school-based Youth Development Session (YDS) and camp at the Benguet National High School-Main, La Trinidad, Benguet on March 29-31.

With the theme “Millennial Legends: Empowering Youth for a Better Tomorrow,” the YDS is a modular session for the Pantawid Pamilya highschool beneficiaries that aims to motivate the students to finish their education. Students undergo sessions that enhance their life skills and knowledge to help them cope with challenges as adolescents.

“We are hopeful that the different activities during the three-day camp inspired and empowered our student beneficiaries”, said Orlyn Hangdaan, Social Welfare Officer, DSWD-CAR.

Topics discussed during the three-day activity included the Role of Youth in the Community, Family Foundation, Understanding True Love, Mental Health Awareness/Stress and Anger Management, Life of an Adolescent, Career Pathing, Critical Decision Making, and Moral Recovery.

“We are expecting that after this activity, the delegates will realize the importance of family… because one of the attributors why students fail in school is family issues. We try to let them understand why such issues are happening in the family. We need to motivate these students how to survive intricate situations like stress, anger, and depression. Also, we want to educate these students on teenage pregnancy and premarital sex as one of the prevailing issues of the youth today,” said Police Corporal Joshua Daligan of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 15.

Evelyn Cayat, a Grade 12 student, shared “nabuild ti camaraderie ken unity me through diyay team building activities..ken naadal me met ti ikasta nga ag set ti goals para iti future mi. Nafeel ken naappreciate mi dagiyay presence ken sacrifices ti resource speakers, guardians me ken dagiyay amin nga nag conduct ditoy mga activity (Our camaraderie and unity was built through the team building activities. We also learned how to set goals for our future. We also felt and we appreciate the presence and sacrifices of the resource speakers, guardians, and all those who conducted this activity).”

The YDS is a joint activity of the DSWD, RMFB 15 of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PROCOR), Department of Education (DepEd), Local Government Unit- La Trinidad, and Benguet National High School. A Memorandum of Agreement was forged last September 2018 to formalize the YDS partnership between RMFB-PROCOR, DepEd, and DSWD.

Implemented by the DSWD, Pantawid Pamilya also known as the Conditional Cash Transfer Program in the Philippines monitors children 0-18 years old. The household beneficiaries receive Php300 and Php500 cash grants if student beneficiaries have at least 85% monthly school attendance in elementary and high school. Although the YDS is not a program condition to receive the cash grant, the activity is implemented to guide and develop the youth beneficiaries to be responsible and productive members of their family and the community.

Meanwhile, the program currently monitors 65, 217 high school students in the Cordillera. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Marlo Abyado

Cordillera Administrative Region – The Department of Social Welfare and Development here reminded its beneficiaries against the use of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and other programs this campaign period.

DSWD Dir. Janet Armas said that the DSWD has been conducting information dissemination through its monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS) to combat fake news that may manipulate partner beneficiaries and use Pantawid Pamilya for political advancement.

“Voters’ Education and the electoral process are among the topics discussed during the FDS…this is one way of ensuring that partner beneficiaries are educated and are empowered to freely choose whom they want to vote,” she added.

Meanwhile, Pantawid Pamilya Regional Program Coordinator Fatima Florendo stressed that the selection of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries is based on the Department’s list of poor as assessed through a uniform and objective process. She further said that adding and delisting of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries is solely done by the DSWD through its grievance redress system.

“We encourage everyone, especially our partner beneficiaries, to report any case that involve the use of the 4Ps and other DSWD programs for election campaign. The DSWD remains to be committed in delivering serbisyo na walang puwang sa katiwalian,” Director Armas said.

Concerns can be directed to (074) 444-3262 or www.facebook.com/dswdfocar or through Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Grievance hotline +63918-912-2813 or www.facebook.com/4pscar/.

The Pantawid Pamilya, commonly known as 4Ps, is the Philippines’ Conditional Cash Transfer, which gives cash and non-cash incentives to its beneficiaries in exchange of verifiable conditions on health, nutrition, and education. ### jebescalante

Cordillera Administrative Region-The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here continues to encourage all local government units (LGUs) of the region to adopt the Yakap Bayan Framework in providing interventions to drug surrenderers. Since 2016, the DSWD is in close coordination with various line agencies and LGUs to ensure that the main thrust of President Rodrigo Duterte to eradicate illegal drugs and illegal-drug related activities is realized.

In 29 November 2016, the DSWD-CAR, as the lead agency for Pillar III, convened the Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) composed of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Education, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Justice-Parole and Probation Administration, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Commission for the Culture and the Arts, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine National Police.

After a series of consultation-dialogues to address the illegal drug problem in the region, the Regional Development Council (RDC) and Cordillera Regional Peace and Order Council (CRPOC) approved a resolution urging all local government units in CAR to adopt the Yakap Bayan Framework. The said resolution that was approved on 15 November 2017 was prior recommended by the Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC) chaired by the DSWD.

The Yakap Bayan Framework of intervention is an off-shoot of the Ifugao Reflection Camp which is an indigenous rehabilitation model developed by the Province of Ifugao. It provides part center and part community-based rehabilitation for drug surrenderers. It ensures that culture is integrated into solutions and utilize available resources and programs in the locality. The Yakap Bayan Framework also aims to harmonize all existing government programs, projects, activities to provide a concrete and sustainable system of rehabilitation and continuum of care for former drug users and support measures for the strengthening of families and communities.
Under the Yakap Bayan Framework, drug surrenderers receive various interventions such as medical treatment and rehabilitation, psychosocial interventions, skills training, and leadership training.
The DSWD-CAR has provided assistance worth PhP 1,626,050.00 to 166 drug surrenderers and their families. This is through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). Among the services provided under the SLP is the Community-Based Skills Training on Goat Raising in Kibungan, Benguet, Skills Training on Native Chicken Production cum Construction of Chicken Coop in Sagada, Mt. Province, Cash for Building Livelihood Asset for the Improvement of Sitio Bue to Wala farm to market road in Paracelis, Mt. Province, and livelihood assistance on Bee Keeping in Bontoc, Mt. Province, vegetable farming in Bauko, Mt. Province and hog raising in Danglas, Abra.

Meanwhile, the DSWD-CAR continues the advocacy of the Yakap Bayan Framework through the Technical Assistance Sessions being conducted in various municipalities in the region. As a result, the municipalities of Tuba and Bakun in Benguet and Luna in Apayao had already released a resolution and forged a Memorandum of Agreement with DSWD-CAR to replicate completed social technologies related to the prevention of drug abuse. Among the social technologies to be replicated are the Family Drug Abuse Prevention Program and the putting up of the Special Drug Education Center.

Aside from the Technical Assistance Sessions, the DSWD-CAR through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program has also conducted a Training on Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad Program which is a relapse prevention module to 50 LGUs and 77 Municipal Links.

As of 1 April 2019, the DSWD-CAR through the Social Technology Unit and the Social Marketing Unit has conducted 13 Technical Assistance Sessions to M/BADAC members in the municipalities of Tuba, Bakun, Buguias, Tublay, Kibungan, and Kabayan in Benguet, Luna and Flora in Apayao, Dolores, Bucay ang Peñarubia in Abra and Bauko and Paracelis in Mt. Province.

Technical Assistance and Resource Augmentation have also been provided to the Provincial/ Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council of various local government units (LGUs) for them to start their community-based rehabilitation services. These LGUs include the Province of Ifugao, municipalities of Bauko, Bontoc, Tadian, Natonin, Sadanga, Paracelis, and Sagada in Mt. Province, Baguio City, municipalities of Luna, Flora, Pudtol, Sta. Marcela, Kabugao, Calanasan, and Conner in the Province of Apayao, municipalities of Itogon, Kibungan, Tublay, Tuba, La Trinidad, Sablan, Atok, Buguias, Kabayan, Kapangan, and Bakun in Benguet Province, municipalities of Danglas, Manado, Bangued, Pilar, Penarubia, Langiden, Sallapadan, Licuan-Baay, San Quintin, San Isisdro, Bucay, Dolores, and Villaviciosa in Abra Province and the municipalities of Lubuagan, Tanudan, Rizal, Pasil, Balbalan and Tabuk City in Kalinga Province.

“The DSWD-CAR continues to intensify its advocacies to help in addressing the concerns related to the use and abuse of illegal drugs and activities related to this. We are doing our best to reach our communities through their Provincial, Municipal, and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (P/M/BADAC) and provide them with the information and knowledge that they could use for them to better address the illegal drug problem in their respective areas.” OIC-Regional Director Janet P. Armas shared.# DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

Cordillera Administrative Region- The Department of Social Welfare and Development here has assisted 656 families that were affected by the armed conflict in Mt. Province.

The encounter between the Cordillera Police Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) and the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the vicinity of Mt. Kapuwaw, Sitio Mabalagan, Bagnen Proper, Bauko, Mt. Province occurred on 29 March 2019. Another incident followed in Sitio Malupa, Abatan in the same municipality and in Cabunagan, Tadian, Mt. Province on 2 April 2019. The encounters affected around 1,732 individuals.

As of 6 April 2019, four (4) evacuation centers opened to cater to the displaced families from Bauko, Mt. Province. 24 families with 116 individuals opted to stay in the centers while 44 families with 242 individuals opted to stay with their relatives. All of the families are now back in their homes except for one family that evacuated to Baguio City.

Due to the encounter, farming and tourism activities in the area were temporarily suspended which affected the income of the community.

To address the impact of the incident, the DSWD-CAR has already provided assistance amounting to PhP 209,069.25 to the affected families. On 3 April 2019, 66 family food packs (FFPs) were distributed to the affected families of Sitio Cotcot, Poblacion, Bauko. On 4 April 2019, 100 FFPs were delivered to Bagnen Proper, 36 FFPs to Barangay Balintaugan, and 136 FFPs to Barangay Bagnen Oriente. Additional 500 FFPs, 50 sleeping kits, 50 hygiene kits, 50 family kits, 50 collapsible water container, and 5 tents were delivered to the affected barangays. On 5 April 2019, 122 FFPs were also provided to the affected families from barangay Bagnen Proper.

“The DSWD-CAR through our Social Welfare and Development Office in the province is in close coordination with the Local Social Welfare and Development Office to ensure that we are able to provide efficient and coordinated service to the affected individuals. We are ready to provide the necessary assistance to the LGU and to the families”, DSWD-CAR Regional Director Janet P. Armas said. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

Cordillera Administrative Region- Programs and services under the Department of Social Welfare and Development will be continuously implemented even during the election period. This follows after the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) released a resolution dated 1 April 2019 approving the petition of the Department for the exemption from the Omnibus Election Code that prohibits the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds as stated under Section 262 (v.2).

This means that DSWD may continue to disburse funds in relation to its programs and services including the distribution of cash grants to beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the implementation of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

The COMELEC resolution, however, stated the condition that programs requiring expenditures, the expenditures are limited to an amount equivalent to one quarter covering the duration of the election period.

“We would like to assure that we will continue providing our assistance and service to our clients and stakeholders in accordance to existing guidelines and procedures”, DSWD-CAR OIC-Regional Director Janet P. Armas said.

“We would also like to apologize to our clients and beneficiaries who have been affected by the cancellation of scheduled pay-outs prior the release of the COMELEC resolution. We are doing our best to deliver the services as soon as possible”, Armas added.

The DSWD has also requested for an authority to continue its ongoing and undertake possible disaster relief, early recovery and rehabilitation efforts during the election period.

Schedule of payouts and other service delivery activities will be directly communicated to DSWD Social Welfare and Development Offices in the provinces. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

Apo Whang-od received the Centenarian’s Cash Gift and Letter of Felicitation as she officially turned 100 on 7 March 2019.

Cordillera Administrative Region– My journey to finding a hundred-year-old treasure started with a phone call. Despite the urgency of the trip, I wasn’t able to resist the invitation. I had to take it. I had to take this once in a lifetime experience.

Upon checking my schedule, I already said yes to another commitment. This meant that I had to travel for more than 17 hours just to make the journey possible. However, life has its twists and turns, my schedule was cleared a day before the trip. But our journey will still not be easy.

No treasure map, just sticks and dust

Treasure hunters use maps. But for this journey, all we have is our passion and a little bit of luck. We were prepared to take a daylong road trip but our bodies were not prepared to take a hike. Nevertheless, we took the road that many have already taken.

The end of our journey can be overseen from where we began. But as we pushed through, the dust-covered path ahead of us seemed to be endless. Luck appeared to be on our side as the clouds tried to cover the scorching heat of the sun while traversing the steep route. At some point, trees and plants offer us shade where we could catch our breath. A tree branch also served as my trekking pole for the duration of the hike.

Treasure more than gold

After almost an hour, we were able to reach our destination. The place was crowded with people of different colors. But one woman stood out.

Despite the hustle around, she was engrossed to what she was doing. She was quiet but her presence can be felt.

Still catching my breath from the hike, I was mesmerized. In front of my eyes was a treasure far more precious than gold. Immediately, I took out my camera to capture the moment before we were asked to wait in a separate area.

Limelight and sparkles

Time finally came when we met the hundred-year-old treasure. Despite the language difference, we felt the warm welcome of Apo Whang-od as a smile glimmered from her face.

Apo Whang-od took the limelight as the oldest living mambabatok or traditional tattoo artist from the Butbut tribe in Kalinga. She has been conferred various awards and featured in different media. But humility and affection can be sensed in her presence. This positive aura may have helped her reach this milestone as she officially turned a hundred years old on 7 March 2019.

As her birth certificate reflects, Whang-od Parat Oggay was born on 7 March 1919 in Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga. Her birth was registered by her brother, Rudy Oggay, in May 2015. Whang-od is currently residing with her relatives in Buscalan where she received the recognition for centenarians from the National Government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development- Cordillera Administrative Region.

Whang-od is one of the 120 centenarians of the Cordillera Region who have received the Centenarian’s Cash Gift and a Letter of Felicitation.  She is one of the nine (9) centenarians from Kalinga Province. Meanwhile, there are 30 centenarians from Abra Province, 9 in Apayao, 11 in Ifugao, 27 from Mountain Province, 21 in Benguet Province and 13 from Baguio City.

“We are honored and elated to recognize this milestone of a pride of the Cordilleras. But it is not only Whang-od who is our treasure. All our centenarians and elderlies deserve the acknowledgment and respect from all of us for they possess the wealth of experience and gift of wisdom that only through time that they were able to acquire.”, DSWD-CAR Director Janet P. Armas said.

“This is also very timely since we are observing Women’s Month this March. Apo Whang-od is an epitome of how a woman can bring pride and honor to her community, as well as challenge the misconceptions that our society have”, Director Armas added.

From 2017 to 2022, the theme for the Women’s Month celebration is “We make change work for women” which underscores the empowerment of women as active contributors to and claimholders of development. This 2019, the celebration focuses on strengthening efforts to improve and track the progress of implementation of the Magna Carta of Women (MCW), and other relevant laws and commitments pertaining to women rights.

“May we all be inspired to take part in bringing changes in our society especially those that will benefit every woman in the community. We do not need to be in offices or high-ranking positions to make this possible. By doing our best in everything we do, by loving our talents and flaws, by continuously perfecting our craft, by showing respect and compassion to others,  by simply being ourselves and improving to become the best version of our selves- by starting with ourselves, we can make change work for women”, Director Armas said. # DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

BBCCC Board of Directors, DSWD-CAR personnel, Kibungan LGU officials, and Barangay Palina residents pose for commemorative photos to celebrate their successful collaborations.

Cordillera Administrative Region- A couple of months after signing a MOA with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-CAR), the Baguio-Benguet Community Credit Cooperative (BBCCC) donated a set of medical equipment and supplies for a health station in Kibungan, Benguet.

The health center in Sitio Tabbac, Palina was built last year through the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS in partnership with the community and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Kibungan. However, the medical equipment and supplies are to be sourced out from the LGU or other agencies later.

After learning about BBCCC’s dental and medical initiatives that include donation of medical equipment, DSWD-CAR workers coordinated with community volunteers of Sitio Tabbac, Palina to submit a proposal to the cooperative.

BBCCC Director Mary Ann Bungag shared that she personally visited the municipality to validate the specific needs at the health center after her office received the proposal.

On February 21, a month after the proposal was submitted, some of the BODs and employees of BBCCC traveled to Kibungan, Benguet to turn over the medical equipment and supplies in Sitio Tabbac.

They were able to provide gynecological beds, patient beds, medicine refrigerator, weighing scales, BP apparatus, medical cabinets, and others amounting to more than PhP 325,000.00.

During the turn over, Bungag told the community that all the medical equipment and supplies are from the 17, 000 members of the cooperative. “The fund is not from our pocket but from all the members of the cooperative,” she said.

She continued that the cooperative is happy to be of help to the people of Sitio Tabbac. “We can only ask one thing from you, please take good care of the facilities so that it can be used for a long time,” she continued.

BOD Vice Chairman Arturo Asuncion is also delighted to see the children and the parents in the community who will benefit from the facility. He then encouraged them to become a part of the cooperative. “If you are interested to join BBCCC, we can organize an orientation seminar here in the municipality,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sangguniang Bayan member Susan Atayoc, who witnessed the turn over together with DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS staff, said that they are overwhelmed with joy for the donations given by BBCCC. “Among all the needy communities in the Cordillera, you chose to answer to the needs of our people. We feel so lucky,” she remarked.

She added that LGU Kibungan is thrilled that within a month, the proposal was approved and the needed equipment and supplies are already delivered.

Since the MOA signing on November 2018, BBCCC and DSWD-CAR have been closely coordinating to provide services to most needy communities in the Cordillera.

On December 10, 2018, BBCCC also donated a similar set of medical equipment and materials to the Barangay Health Center in Kinama, Rizal, Kalinga. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Jasmin Kiaso  

Cordillera Administrative Region– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here is encouraging individuals who are 18 to 25 years old to join the agency through its Government Internship Program (GIP).

The Government Internship Program is open to high school graduates, TESDA certificate holders, or Alternative Learning System (ALS) Certificate holders who belong to a family with monthly income not more than the existing poverty threshold that is PhP 8,022.00.

First implemented in the region in 2012, the program continues to provide opportunities for the youth to gain work experience in the government sector and learn life skills in the workplace while earning money to augment their school needs.

“The DSWD-CAR is open to our youth who are interested to join our pursuit towards the development of the region”, DSWD-CAR OIC Regional Director Janet P. Armas said.

The youth interns will have the opportunity to work for 30 days and will be paid PhP 225 per day or 75% of the regional minimum wage.

DSWD-CAR will accommodate eighty (80) youth interns from 15 April to 29 May 2019.

The Government Internship Program (GIP) is an offshoot of Kabataan Program which encourages high school and college students and out-of-school youth (OSYs) to engage in constructive and productive activities for the entire year. Meanwhile, GIP aims to provide employment opportunities for target participants including out-of-school youth (OSY), in-school youth (ISY), college/vocational graduate, and unemployed young professionals for a period of time, usually during school breaks.

Interested individuals may submit their duly filled application form together with their resume, photocopy of birth certificate, diploma or certificates, family income tax return, and medical certificate at DSWD-CAR #40 North Drive, Baguio City or in the nearest DSWD Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Office in the provinces.# DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva