Vilma Bitcher, thirty-five year old and a mother of two is an active volunteer for barangay San Isidro, Liloy Zamboanga del Norte. She works as a Barangay Nutrition Scholar and is also a parent-leader of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), treasurer of Damayan-SLPA Finance Credit and the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee Chairperson for Kalahi-CIDSS since 2016.

But before becoming a part of Kalahi-CIDSS, Vilma recalled how passive the community was. They pay little attention interms of the activities in their locality and participation is hardly felt. This is partly because of the difficulty of their living condition, Vilma shared that majority of the people in this barangay are indeed very poor.

Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP is one of the poverty-alleviation programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development which uses community-driven development (CDD) approach, a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes.

When the programs and services of the department entered San Isidro, they knew it would be an opportunity for the community to propose for the construction of water system since water has been scarce in this part of Liloy. Their only source used to be an open well which dries up during summer and is not safe for drinking. As a matter of fact they had experienced high cases of diarrhea with their children before.

And through a series of barangay assembly being called upon as required by the Kalahi-CIDSS, they were able to identify who were willing to provide their services as Community Volunteers and with that they were armed with trainings in terms of budgeting, procurement process, project proposals preparation and the implementation process of the sub-project in general.

But the implementation has been very challenging to the people, “noong una noong hindi pa nila naiintindihan iyong Kalahi-CIDSS, parang walang may interesado. Pero noong unti-unti na naming napapaliwanag sa mga mamamayan, unti-unting naliliwanagan ang mga isip nila… ay ang ganda pala ng layunin ng Kalahi, isa pala iyong programa na makakatulong sa pangangailangan namin sa barangay”, shared by Vilma.

Even she, herself was unsure of the turn-out of the program, she started observing and at that time during Cycle 1 despite the efforts done they weren’t prioritized. That frustration has challenged them to mobilize the community once again. With better understanding on the objectives of the program, she earned the trust of the people and that’s when she started taking charge as the BSPMC Chairperson.

“Bilang isang BSPMC Chair, naramdaman ko ang malaking responsibilidad, ikaw ang nagsisilbing pinaka-leader ng Kalahi dito sa barangay. Alam ko na kaakibat ng tungkuling ito ay kailangan maging isang mabuting huwaran ako sa lahat, na may maipagmamalaki hindi lamang sa  salita, kung hindi meron din sa gawa”, these are the words of Vilma when asked about how she carried her role in the implementation.

 True enough, during the planning process, the people came in unity in identifying what’s truly needed in the community, thus the construction of water system in barangay San Isidro has been prioritized under cycle 2 of Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP.

Their efforts were paid off as they got lucky to be prioritized during the 3^rd Cycle of KC-NCDDP. It was during the MIBF when they show how much they needed a school building for their elementary kids. Vilma’s child is among the students who take classes in the makeshift mini-gym. It wasn’t as comfortable as it can be, the makeshift classroom holds their classes on three grade levels with noises overpowering one another which is truly not conducive for learning.

With all the implementation happening in their barangay, the people felt great about the objectives of the program, they saw the intention of involving the people in project implementation and they also felt the importance of their involvement, their contribution to the community and the learning they’ve received.

They were simply grateful that through the program, even those coming from distant Puroks have access now to water supply, and with the completion of the 1 unit- 2 classroom school building, students will no longer suffer from its inconveniences.

Vilma admitted that everything she had experienced with Kalahi-CIDSS has only developed her into a more confident person despite all the struggles that came along. Although there remains to be more issues needed action in the community but they are hopeful that they can eventually find ways on how to address them.  ### JGA

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) forged partnership to provide employment assistance to the beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, during the celebration of the Labor Day 2018. This provision is also offered to newly-graduated grantees of the Expanded Students Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) for possible immediate hiring.

The Bureau of Local Employment proposed to provide employment assistance to 4Ps and ESGP-PA grantees by setting express lanes at job fair areas in Zamboanga Ecozone on April 30 and May 1 and KCC Mall de Zamboanga on May 2.

All 4Ps beneficiaries and ESGP-PA grantees who have internet access were advised to sign in and pre-register on PhilJobNet online while beneficiaries who do not have access to the internet were asked to accomplish the National Skills Registration Form (NSRP) Form 1 or “Jobseekers Registration Form” and present said document during the jobs fair activity.

Prior to the event, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, through the convergence initiative of District 1 program implementers and the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), conducted a 2-day pre-employment orientation amongst 4Ps beneficiaries to prepare them for the recruitment processes.

Omar Sharif Mohammad, a 23 years old Pantawid member, tried his luck after attending the orientation. Mohammad is on for his final interview during the jobs fair and he was referred to a Housekeeping position in one of the biggest business establishments in Zamboanga City.

The pre-employment orientation has helped Mohammad organize a good resumé for a higher chance of getting employed during the jobs fair.

The same jobs fair event is held in other regions in the country and likewise, 4Ps beneficiaries are accommodated and encouraged to apply.

The different structures of the newly inaugurated IP Heritage Village purposely design to accommodate their cultural practices name: Baloy Pintow, Batah Baloy, Baloy Poglumpukan, Maligay, Glapow, Sigulang, Baloy Ponginaguan nog Polongkapan nog Subanon and Baloy Polindowan.

The different structures of the newly inaugurated IP Heritage Village purposely design to accommodate their cultural practices name: Baloy Pintow, Batah Baloy, Baloy Poglumpukan, Maligay, Glapow, Sigulang, Baloy Ponginaguan nog Polongkapan nog Subanon and Baloy Polindowan.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services National Community Driven Development Program commonly referred to as Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP inaugurated the “Subanon Piglompukan Nog Baloy Nog Mokogulangan” known as the IP Heritage Village on April 19, 2018 in Barangay Tabayo, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.

This one-of-a- kind eight structure subproject is a convergent effort of both the Tabayo IP Community and the Barangay Local Government Unit under the congressional fund of Congressman Isagani Amatong for the construction of IP Museum and Kalahi-CIDSS who funded the IP Heritage Village.

The conceptualization of this sub-project was based on the fear among the tribal elders who perceives that the new generation is no longer practicing the Subanen Cultural processes handed over by their forefathers.

“Dako kaayo mig pasalamat ani kay kami mismo, proud mi nga naa mi ingani maski asa mi makaadto nga area” shared by Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee Chairperson Bonifacio Patoh during the turn-over ceremony. (We are very thankful for our own, thus it make us so proud to have this wherever we go”)

Thus, the construction of IP Heritage Village aims to conserve the cultural practices of the Subanen Community in Barangay Tabayo.

DSWD FO IX OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Operations Carmencita D. Luna commends the natives for empowering themselves through community participation and understanding the difference they can achieve in helping each other not just for the community but for the efforts poured to cultural preservation, one that is worth replicating in other IP areas as a unique sub-project in the region.

Deputy Regional Program Manager Roleiste Falsis also challenged the community that through this sub-project “we seek to restore the discipline, the culture, and the practices that would help promote the community’s development based on the capacity of its own community and not from the western influence”.

The IP Heritage Village is one of the most awaited sub-project completed December of 2017 with a total amount cost of Php854,468.00 under KC-NCDDP. Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP is one of the poverty-alleviation programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development which uses community-driven development (CDD) approach, a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes. ### JGA

The Bucketlist That She Never Wanted

The millennial generation is constantly on the lookout for things to do to unmark whatever is on their bucket list. The most common goals that we hear from the millennial today are about travelling, going on vacations, attending a concert, and owning a car. But these things are far from what really fulfills the heart especially of someone who had nothing from the start.

Jeselle Buen, like many of us, had a bucket list of her own. But hers is a little different. Instead of listing down material things that she would like to own or happenings that she would like to experience, hers is about having a complete and intact family –a family that she never had with her parents back then.

As a little kid in an urban community in Ayala, Zamboanga City, Jeselle experienced being bullied for being in a situation that is not commonly understood by the society. They belong to what we call a “second” family. Growing up, she barely has seen her father as he was always with his first immediate family.

Things did not get better when her mother united with another man who they later knew had a severe vice. In Jeselle’s memory, this was when they were in the most unlikeable situation.

Jeselle remembers having to ask her classmates for food because she did not have any baon in school. At this point, she never has seen nor talked to her father anymore. She did not know where he was nor how to contact him for support. What she only knew was that they needed to strive very hard to survive a day and not die in hunger. There were even days when they only eat 1 meal.

Needless to say, this is not part of the bucket list that anyone would want to experience. She just bore in mind that as the eldest in the siblings of 7, she had to stand firm and be strong for her brothers and sisters and her single mom as well.

She helps her mother prepare kakanin at dawn that she would later sell in school. When asked about how this very tedious job affected her studies, Jeselle said that she would fall asleep in her first or second subject because she had to wake up early to prepare their commodities. She added that her teachers understood her because they knew about her situation. But she knew that it negatively affected her status and she understood that she did not perform well in school.

“How could I? How can I be an honor student if I regularly fall asleep during class? I couldn’t help it because my body was so tired every day from doing school works, doing household chores, watching over my 6 siblings, helping my mom prepare kakanin and selling them. All of those things did not allow me to perform better in school,” Jeselle said.

To sum it all, Jeselle did not have an intact family, did not have decent food on the table, and did not perform well in her academics. Basically she couldn’t put a check mark to any of the bucket list of needs. But she had one thing, she had a dream. She wanted to finish her studies and be a teacher someday.

Education: A Pipe Dream (or I thought so)

Jeselle was totally driven by her dream. But it seemed a little hard to reach when you have less access to it. She understood that her mother couldn’t even provide for their adequate meal. What more a college education?

After finishing high school, she accepted that she can never go to college. She stopped schooling for a year. Jeselle used her time and energy to look for work and earn to help her striving mom. Fortunately, she was hired in a canning factory where the only qualification is to have at least a high school diploma.

Looking around her community, Jeselle felt somewhat fidgety.

“Parang di ako mapakali. Nakita ko yung mga kapitbahay ko nagkaroon na ng anak at an early age, walang trabaho, nasa bahay lang. So sabi ko sa sarili ko ayokong manatili sa ganon. Gusto kong makapagtapos. Gusto kong makahanap ng mas magandang trabaho,” Jeselle uttered.

In 2013, her family’s religious compliance to the conditionalities of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program paved the way for Jeselle to secure a slot in the program’s Expanded Students’ Grant in Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGPPA).

As an ESGPPA grantee, Jeselle was entitled to receive a maximum of P60,000  grant per school year for her tuition and other school/college fees. She also received 2,500 monthly stipend to support her other educational expenses such as book fees and an additional 3,500 as monthly allowance.

She mentioned how Pantawid Pamilya has helped her family understand the value of education and its role in uplifting the lives of poor families from poverty.

Jeselle admitted that she was not really focused on education when she was in elementary and high school because to her, there were a lot more important things to think about at that time like food for their empty stomach. But this time, she says, it is different.

“Nung elementary at high school wala akong naibigay sa mama ko na something na ikakaproud niya. Kaya nung napasok ako sa ESGPPA, ginusto ko na sa pagkakataong ito, may maiabot ako sa kanya. Nandyan na eh. May pera na para sa tuition, sa project. Effort ko na lang ang kailangan,” Jeselle added.

One of her bucket list items is now checked.

Your Determination Is Bigger Than Poverty

Jeselle Buen was a remarkable student as reflected in her report cards in college. She became a consistent Dean’s Lister from first year until fourth year. It was probably a bit surprising for Jeselle’s mom to see how determined her daughter was. The former did not even believe and have never attended any of Jeselle’s recognition day activities because she thought Jeselle was just joking around when she said that she was a Dean’s Lister.

But before her graduation day, Jeselle made sure that her mom will witness the fruits of all of her hard work and that she will make her mom proud. Without saying anything about her being a Cum Laude, she asked her mom to go to school saying that her teacher wants to see her.

“She thought that I got in trouble in school that’s why she was called. Little did she know, she will be attending my recognition day where I will deliver a speech. And she cried a river the entire time that I was delivering my speech,” Jeselle proudly recounted.

A month after her graduation, she was immediately hired in one of the private companies in Zamboanga City and 7 months later, she was recruited to work as a visiting lecturer at Western Mindanao State University (WMSU-External Studies Unit).

Perhaps the universe wanted to repay her for all of the hard work that she has done for her family. So in addition to her stint at WMSU which schedule is from 5pm to 8pm, she was also hired in the local government unit of the Municipality of Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay as an Agricultural Technician where she works from 8am to 5pm.

One year later after her graduation as an ESGPPA  grantee, Jeselle was already able to chec

k majority of her bucket list items to include a house renovation and extension, additional appliances for the convenience of her siblings while studying at home, a piggery business, and they also recently started building a boarding ho

use for rental services. She is also supporting the education of her 6 siblings in Zamboanga.

“Poverty is really not a hindrance to success. It may sound cliché to many, but it speaks truth. As long as you are determined, you can achieve your dreams and aspirations. You just have to remember that your determination is bigger than poverty.”

Amidst the global modernization, the introduction of the different types of chemicals and other synthetic fertilizers to the local farmers has been applied to farming. This has been common to increase the production of crops and vegetables for the easiest way of achieving high income. However, this practice is quite harmful to the environment as it slowly destroys the natural components of soil and the crops will contain chemicals that could probably be harmful to human system.

Thus, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), with the help of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program exerted its effort to come up with a project that is eco-friendly, safe for human consumption, a source of food to sustain every 4Ps beneficiary’s table, educational to beneficiaries in terms of organic farming and an additional stable source of income for the beneficiaries of San Pablo Municipality, Zamboanga del Sur.

Oplan ONE (Organized Natural Eco-Farming) in San Pablo is a convergence initiative of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that promotes the usage of organic fertilizers that will benefit the soil, the consumers,  farmers and the community in general. This is based on the study conducted by the department among the beneficiaries.

In the same manner, Oplan ONE in San Pablo is the result of the discussion among the members of the Municipal Action Team (MAT) of San Pablo otherwise known as the “Solid Team” on how to effectively and efficiently respond to the various gaps identified during the Social Welfare Assessment or the SWDI last 2015. The team agreed to come up with a Convergence Initiative (CI) that is multi-faceted which could respond to a multitude of gaps rather than formulating a CI for each and every gap identified. With this, the team would be able to utilize its resources more and reduce the possibility of consuming much time and means to implement and monitor all the CI’s for all the SWDI gaps.

Thus, the objectives of Oplan ONE San Pablo is a response to the following SWDI Gaps: (a) Meals in a day; (b) Malnutrition of children below six years old; (c) Monthly Income; and (d) Community Participation. In addition to this, the CI also aims to aid the Municipal Government of San Pablo with its goal of rehabilitating the soil of its farms by promoting the use of organic farming methods and fertilizers over its synthetic counterpart.

Furthermore, Oplan ONE (Organized Natural Eco-Farming) San Pablo has a deeper significance. ORGANIZE highlights “BAYANIHAN” or the orchestrated collaborative effort of the members of the community primarily the Pantawid beneficiaries who will be grouped in accordance to their “purok” as the main participants of the activity. They will perform their duties and responsibilities as the “agents of change” rather than being merely recipients or “target for change”. Meanwhile, NATURAL emphasizes the use of all-natural, alternative methods in agriculture (e.g., Organic fertilizers, double-digging, composting, etc.). It aims to help the Municipality promote the adaption of our farmers to organic farming methods by setting up demo farms in every Purok of every Barangay in San Pablo. On the other hand, ECO-FARMING encourages our farmers to think for long-term goals such as the rehabilitation of our farmlands from the degradation it sustained over the years caused by the use of synthetic fertilizers and practices harmful to our environment.

Upon determining the primary issues which were malnutrition, poverty, lack of knowledge in organic farming, climate change and livelihood, Oplan ONE San Pablo convergence initiative has come to life aiming to target and improve the quality of life of 100% San Pablo Municipality Pantawid beneficiaries.

To strengthen the participation of Pantawid beneficiaries, the local government unit in the municipality of San Pablo hosted a friendly competition amongst beneficiaries in cultivating the most beautiful communal garden as per their guidelines and criteria.

This way, program implementers were able to inculcate the idea of maintaining a garden in the daily routine of the beneficiaries. Even after the competition, monitoring is still continuously conducted to ensure that there is already stability in terms of the availability of food to every Pantawid Household, improved condition of the children with regards to their nutrition, additional income to support other extra needs of the family, rehabilitation of the soil and upgrading the knowledge of the Pantawid Farmers towards organic farming.

Moreover, the team also sees to it that the B/MLGU sustains its support towards the project to make sure that the CI shall continue its effectiveness in providing alternatives that gives a boost in the status of living of Pantawid beneficiaries.

100% of the total population of the Pantawid beneficiaries participated in the project that led to the success of the CI. Meanwhile, the following tangible and observable results were noted after the evaluation of the project.

• Sustained daily major meals of the family, and the monthly cash grants are set only to buy the educational and health needs of the children. Thus, the purpose of the monthly cash grant is allocated as to where it has supposed to be spent.
• Children below six (6) years old were able to gain more weight compared to previous tests and this is based on the data from the Barangay Health Centers.
• Additional income to the beneficiaries. Oftentimes, their vegetables and other crops are reserved and bought wholesale as the people (non-Pantawid) are already aware of the harmful effects of the vegetables grown with artificial fertilizers.
• The collaboration of the community got even better as they were able to learn the essence of cooperative work towards the achievement of one common good that can be benefited by the whole community in general.

Rumours spread among beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash program that they have received a post-Christmas bonus from President Rodrigo Duterte last month. This is after the beneficiaries noted that an amount of 2,400 pesos was deposited to their cash cards.

DSWD, the agency that implements the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, clarifies that the aforementioned amount is a lump sum of the newly-implemented Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) and not a post-Christmas bonus.

The UCT is a cash grant assistance to poor households to mitigate the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law which forms as the first part of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) of the government.

The lump sum grant which amounted to P2,400 (P200 per month) for 2018 was already released to those beneficiaries who are cash card holders. Other beneficiaries who are under the Over-the-counter scheme will be paid on a later date from April 11 to May 11 this year. For 2019 and 2020, the grant will be increased to P300 per month or equivalent to P3,600 as stipulated in the 3-year  implementation plan of the TRAIN Law.

“There is an immediate need for economic assistance especially for the underprivileged ones now that the TRAIN has been implemented and we are expecting increase in petroleum prices. We have already started with the release of the grants to some Pantawid beneficiaries and we are aiming to finish the distribution of the UCT by the end of June 2018. We are constantly coordinating with LandBank and other possible partners for the smooth implementation of the UCT especially when we start with the Over-the-counter pay-out,” said DSWD-9 Regional Director Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo.

In Region 9, a total of 68,393 Pantawid households already benefited from the UCT that amounts to P164,142,200. Of this figure, P55,620,000 were given to 23,175 households in Zamboanga City.

Other beneficiaries of the UCT will come from the members of the Social Pension Program of the DSWD and those identified and validated by the Listahanan.

Aeschylus once said that from a small seed a mighty trunk may grow.

This means that every big accomplishment once had a small idea. The same is true with humanity. In order to produce dignified and successful people, one must plant, cultivate, and nurture seedlings of virtue and values in the minds of the young generation.

The MCCT-IP Pantawid beneficiaries in Barangay Sebod, Municipality of President Manuel Roxas in Zamboanga del Norte, do exactly what is supposed to be taught to their young indigenous children and to the millennial generation, in general.

As IPs, organic gardening is introduced to them at a very young age. This may be one if not the oldest chore that a young Subanen must learn. Despite being in an identified Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA), the IP beneficiaries seem to be adept in cultivating their land, growing green, leafy vegetables and root crops.

A parent leader took initiative to discuss the benefits of having a communal garden with the principal of Sebod Elementary School and the latter delightedly agreed and offered a plot for gardening in the school vicinity. And so, last November 2017, through the efforts and initiative of the MCCT beneficiaries, a communal garden became possible in the area and was launched with the support of their local partners.

After every CFDS, the group of beneficiaries collaboratively go to the gardening site and work on cultivating and improving their garden. They agreed to contribute a minimal amount to purchase seedlings and tools for maintenance. As for the IP children, they are encouraged to maintain cleanliness in the area to keep their plants healthy and fresh.

Come harvest time, the produces are shared with the community and donated to the barangay as additional ingredients to the Supplemental Feeding for IP children. The beneficiaries acknowledge the importance of healthy and nutritious food hence they make sure that the ingredients during their feeding are organic as well.

This project has helped the local officials in ensuring food security and promoting a healthy lifestyle amongst beneficiaries and their children.

According to the Community Facilitator Assistant (CFA) in the area, Benjie E. Bina, there were 2 reported cases of malnutrition in the area prior to the implementation of the project.

During their most recent update last January, the Barangay Health Worker reported 0 case of malnourish children in the said barangay. They credit this significant achievement to their strong promotion and involvement of children in health and nutrition.

Because of the positive results of such endeavour, the school principal suggested that the gardening should be extended by providing them additional lot for more vegetables to be planted to which the beneficiaries gladly accepted.

It is imperative that we secure children’s health by providing them nutritious food. But it is even more imperative that we teach them the value of a healthy lifestyle and how they can contribute to health and nutrition as young as they are.

Zamboanga Peninsula is a hub of diverse culture and beliefs. It is home for many brothers and sisters of various faiths that share a harmonious relationship despite the differences. This harmony is seen in its people as they live their lives helping one another for the betterment of their individual communities.

Though some beliefs are conflicting between and amongst people in some parts of the region, respect and genuine desire to help wins over differences. This story of a Community Facilitator tells exactly how dissimilarities in beliefs and culture are set aside in the name of public service.

Madznie Amilassan-Hali, a Community Facilitator under Modified Conditional Cash-Transfer (MCCT) Program in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, is a native that embraces her religion of Islam. In more occasions than not, Madznie deals with clients who are as diverse in many ways as they are.

As a Community Facilitator, it is her duty to facilitate the project proposals of the beneficiaries and to monitor the sustainability and progress of the project. One of her assigned barangays identified piggery as their proposed project. It is not unknown to many that pig (or pork) is considered ‘haram’ or forbidden in Islam. A believer must not have a direct contact to such.

“As her immediate supervisor, I was expecting that she would decline the project as it goes against her beliefs. But being professional as she is, I was proved wrong. She took the project and handled the monitoring very well. Now that is professionalism with utmost dedication,” says Ma. Cleofe Solamillo, Provincial Link of Zamboanga del Norte.

DSWD upholds its mission to reach out to the poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals without biases and prejudices. Anchored by their core values: Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo, Serbisyong Walang Puwang sa Katiwalian, at Patas na Pagtrato sa Komunidad, the department, together with its people, continues to serve the public with utmost dedication and commitment.

Madznie’s brand of genuine public service reflects the core values of DSWD. She is able to maintain professionalism in performing her duties and at the same time, follow and keep her strong faith and good relationship with Allah.

Regional Director of DSWD-9, Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo, always emphasizes the importance of respect in all aspects of life.

“We pay as much respect to our colleagues especially those in the field as we do to our beneficiaries. They are really the pillars of this institution that continuously and wholeheartedly give passion and dedication to deliver the mandates of the department. Their service shows the Malasakit of DSWD as the lead agency in promoting social welfare,” says Regional Director Solamillo.