In celebration of its 65^th Anniversary, the Department of Social Welfare and Development recognized DSWD Field Office IX’s Municipal Action Team of Tigbao from Zamboanga Del Sur for its Best Convergence Initiative on Case Management-Group Intervention Planning.

The recognition was awarded during the Praise and Loyalty awards held last January 27, 2016 in DSWD Central Office. Likewise, the Best Municipal Action Team award was also given to Tigbao MAT as implementers of the initiative. The team was composed of 18 members represented by Municipal Links, SWAs and Municipal Roving Bookkeepers of Pantawid Pamilya; Project Development Officers of Sustainable Livelihood Program; Community Facilitator, CFAs of MCCT-IP and Area Coordinators, CFFs of KC-NCDDP.

The Municipality of Tigbao is the 26th municipality of Zamboanga del Sur comprised of 18 barangays taken and separated from its mother municipality of Dumalinao. It currently holds 1,844 Pantawid Pamilya Households.

The implementation of Group Intervention Planning (GIP) is one of the convergence strategies that ensure right beneficiaries with the right interventions to address the felt need.  It is a community based-approach planning process with local officials and with the direct Pantawid beneficiaries that aimed at matching the needs and the demand for interventions based on the identified gaps in the Social Welfare and Development Indicators (SWDI) to ensure improvement of level of well-being.

The initiative was implemented in full swing on the 1^st quarter of 2015. The initial step undertaken was the presentation SWI Gaps during Barangay Sessions in the presence of the MIAC members, Civil Society Organizations and other Stakeholders. The MAT utilizes the Family Development Session (FDS) as strategic venue for the implementation of GIP. Harmonizing results were discussed during the Group Intervention Planning where internal and local resources are tapped to address the gaps.

Some interventions facilitated were: Parent Leaders training on Organic Farming; Communal Babuyang Walang Amoy for the Pantawid beneficiaries who availed the Sustainable Livelihood Program among 22 SKAs in 8 barangays of Tigbao; Communal Gardening in 18 Barangays; Provision of DOLE’s starter kits for Dress Making and among others.

The creation of MAT is DSWD’s internal convergence approach to maximize and harmonize efforts of field workers towards concentrating interventions in aiding Pantawid Pamilya Beneficiaries achieve an improved level of well-being.

Meanwhile, the PRAISE awards is an annual awarding ceremony conducted in celebration of its anniversary to recognize the hardworking men and women who have painstakingly poured out efforts and have greatly contributed in the agency’s thrust.

DSWD anniversary is celebrated every month of January and usually filled with series of recognition activities, product exhibits and events. This year is anchored on the theme: “DSWD at 65: Mga Kwentong Tagumpay Tungo sa Masaganang Pagbabago”.