The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office IX has launched its FDS-On Air through its partner community radios in Zamboanga Peninsula on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
The FDS ON AIR is an innovation of DSWD Field Office IX which aims to bring the conduct of Family Development Sessions in the airwaves and have it mainstreamed in regular radio programs. The birth of the initiative in 2016 was considered first in the region and in the department which earned admiration and support from other stakeholders.
The recent pandemic brought by the threats of COVID-19 has affected not only the beneficiaries but also the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. The said crisis has led the agency to declare “forced majeure” in the conditionalities of the program particularly on the conduct of Family Development Sessions since gathering is highly discouraged during the Enhanced Community Quaratine. In addition, the welfare and safety of beneficiaries and staff were DSWD’s primary concern and adherence to quarantine protocols can contribute to help slow down the transmission of the virus during its period.
While the program is currently adapting to the new normal schemes, It also tries to look for alternative means to continually engage all beneficiaries in the communities. A re-launching of the said initiative was made to provide monthly sessions on air to the beneficiaries through the one-hour airtime provided by the partner community radio stations regionwide.
DSWD has partnered 21 radio stations through the coordination and efforts of the different Provincial Operations Offices of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program which shall monitor and ensure the implementation of the said initiative. It is also being spearheaded by the Regional program management office through the technical assistance of the Social Marketing Unit.
The topics per month are thematic in nature which covers family protection, mitigation and safety against the COVID-19. Through these topics, beneficiaries are encouraged to tune in on the scheduled sessions on radio and submit their insights using their talaarawan or any available paper sheets through their parent leaders or municipal/city links for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
The FDS On-Air in 2016 was awarded as Best Communication Practice during the Communications Review and Evaluation Workshop and was recognized by the International partners during its 4th joint mission visit in Zamboanga City in 2018. ##