ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA—More than a thousand poor families in Zamboanga City received social services from the Convergence Caravan held last June 10 in barangay Vitali. The activity, dubbed as “We Care”, was spearheaded by the DSWD through the initiative of the 4Ps Provincial Operations Office of Zamboanga City and Isabela City in collaboration with various government agencies, non-government organizations, and other civil society organizations.

The convergence team is composed of the DSWD, Philippine Coastguard Auxiliary, Ateneo De Zamboanga University, Technical Education and Skills Authority (TESDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Royhle Aviation Academy, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Dental Association, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine National Police, KAAKIBAT CIVICOM International, Junior Chamber International (JCI) and the City Government of Zamboanga.

Among the interventions provided are intended to address concerns in livelihood and family development of poor families. The team facilitated an orientation on availment of services such as in agriculture, livestock, and seaweed. Other services provided include dental cleaning, circumcision, feeding for children, food processing, registration to senior citizen-social pension, solo parent, distribution of food packs.

Other than these, the team acknowledges the need for behavioral change hence the conduct of orientation on Gender and Development, Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Drug, and Quick Response Team during calamities and disaster.

“It is important that we do not only address the immediate needs of the families but, more importantly, we empower them and give them the technical know-how to be able to help themselves,” DSWD Regional Director Riduan P. Hadjimuddin said.

RD Hadjimuddin thanks the organizations and agencies that participated in this convergence caravan. He also salutes the effort of the Provincial Operations Office of the 4Ps for Zamboanga and Isabela City headed by Glenda Tobias and all of the field implementers for continuously looking for ways to deliver the 4Ps beneficiaries to self-sufficiency.

In practice, the Convergence Caravan has been a big contributory factor to the increase in the level of well-being of many 4Ps beneficiaries. The 4Ps program aims to bring its members to level 3 or self-sufficiency. Once a family beneficiary achieve self-sufficiency and sustained it for at least 2 consecutive assessment periods, the family will be recommended for graduation or exit from the program.