When we were told about how difficult it is to get to Sitio Logdeck, Barangay Tampilisan, Municipality of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay, we did not exactly know what challenge we accepted until it was time to go. Boy, it took us a whole-day trekking on numerous hills, barefoot walking on muddy trails, crossing over rivers, and climbing on rocks to be able to reach the target beneficiaries.

It was September 23^rd of 2020 when we first visited the area of the Subanen Tribe in Sitio Logdeck. It is a community where public facilities and services are barely present due to its geographical location. Acknowledging the needs of the locals, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program-Provincial Operations Office (POO) of Zamboanga Sibugay pledged to return to the area and introduce them to other agencies that cater to vulnerable individuals and families.

TABANG LOGDECK 2

During the first visit in the area, the team had identified a few immediate and long-term concerns that need to be addressed. Some of the long-term needs include the source of electricity in the barangay and the construction of school buildings to cater to 3^rd graders and higher.

As of today, the community only caters to grade 1 and 2 pupils. 3^rd and higher graders need to walk 9 kilometers down and uphill and through rivers to attend to school. The POO has already referred this concern to the Department of Education to which the latter responded with a commitment to provide additional grade level and school building in the area.

To help the locals in their immediate concerns, the POO has coordinated with various offices to include the local government unit of Kabasalan, the Department of Agriculture Research Division, Office of the Congresswoman Ann Hofer, Department of Health, Provincial Office of the Health Officer and Governor, Pharmacist and Dental Association, ZAMSURECO 2, Municipal Agricultural Office  (BFAR), 102^nd brigade / 44^TH Infantry Battalion, business sector, and private individuals with the same yearning to help the community.

Together, they conducted a Serbisyo Caravan activity dubbed as “Tabang Logdeck 2” last December 2020 which converges frontline agencies to address the welfare and other concerns of the indigenous tribe.

The tribal leader called the Timuay, Antonio Ocnip, expressed that the Serbisyo Caravan was the first time that the government and private sector have ever visited their community for such assistance and services.

Apparently, it is their first time to receive gifts, food packs, hygiene kits, family kits, groceries, toys, slippers, among others.

GIVE A MAN A FISH AND YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY; TEACH A MAN TO FISH AND YOU FEED HIM A LIFETIME

The Serbisyo Caravan also served as an avenue to introduce the locals to more sustainable ways of living. The Municipal Agriculturist, Ms. Miladel Capitanya, introduced the new programs of the Department of Agriculture such as the Rice Program: focusing on Highland Rice, High Value Development Crops Program, Livestock Developing Program, Organic Program, and the Dis-advantage of using Roundup Weedkiller.

Furthermore, Mr. Justein Sampilo, the Science Aid of Department of Agriculture Research Division taught them how to raise and propagate a plant called Trichanthera, and a weed called Signal Grassto feed their livestock naturally and safely without costing them a penny.

Sampilo also discussed the proper way of planting a new variety of hybrid “adlay”, “pechay”, “eggplant”, and “tomato” for consumption. Mr. William Roldan, an Agriculture Technician of BFAR, gave a lecture on how to propagate hybrid “tilapia”.

With that knowledge, the indigenous people wasted no time and immediately dug in a vacant lot that is owned by the IP community. And at last, the first-ever fishpond in the barangay was established.

One of the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries stated that they used to be able to eat fish only when the program releases their cash grants. Now, with their newly created fishpond, they will be able to eat fish anytime they wish.

Taking Care of the ‘ChikiTeeth’

They say that the ‘chikitings’ or the children are our future and so it is our responsibility to take care of them and teach them how to take care of themselves.

Unusual as it may sound, but the indigenous children in Sitio Logdeck have never tried nor seen a toothbrush and a toothpaste. It is a strange activity for them because their parents have never taught them to brush their teeth. This is not a thing to them, and it has been this way since the early generation of their tribe in Barangay Tampilisan.

The children seemed to be so interested and curious about it that they even tasted the toothpaste to see if it is any good.

The Municipal Link demonstrated the proper way to brush teeth; the children enthusiastically observed and tried it on their own.

Other Services

The 44^th Infantry Battalion headed by Staff Sergeant Roldan Librando provided free haircut services to the indigenous people of Logdeck.

Parlor games for children and Supplemental Feeding were also held by the Zamboanga Sibugay POO Team.

Through the help of concerned private individuals, various offices and establishments, the Serbisyo Caravan was able to provide tokens, gifts, seedlings, medicines and vitamins, breads, and many other useful kits to the indigenous people of Sitio Logdeck.

Serbisyo Caravan is an initiative of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program that aims to converge stakeholders and service providers to address the immediate needs of a community especially ones that are hardly reached by government agencies. The abovementioned Serbisyo Caravan was held last December 16-18, 2020.

The Department would like to send its gratitude to all agencies, offices, and individuals that extended help and effort to contribute to the well-being of the IP community in Sitio Logdeck, Barangay Tampilisan, Municipality of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay. This proves that no family who needs help is left behind if we work together for a common goal. Truly, Serbisyo Caravan is a service for all.

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Field Office 9 through the National Household Targeting Section (NHTS) for BARMM-BaSulTa will start training its Area Supervisors next week, to be deployed throughout its island provinces for the upcoming Listahanan 3 Validation and Finalization Phase.

A total of 24 Area Supervisors for Basilan Province will be required to undergo the 3-day orientation and training on December 14-16 at Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City. They will be positioned throughout the province particularly in its lone City of Lamitan and 11 municipalities (Tipo-Tipo, Lantawan, Sumisip, Akbar, Albarka, Hadji Muhammad Ajul, Hadji Muhtamad, Tabuan Lasa, Tuburan, Ungkaya Pukan, and Maluso).

Moreover, the training of field personnel for the Province of Sulu will be conducted on December 21-23 (same venue with that of Basilan) while for Tawi-Tawi, the Area Supervisors will be trained in January 2021.

Based on the initial list of poor households generated from the third round of the regular assessment in BARMM-BaSulTa, out of the 77,597 households assessed in Basilan, 56,925 were identified as poor. In Sulu, 115,775 out of 160,697 households were also classified as poor. For Tawi-Tawi, of the 71,006 households interviewed, only 29,558 were said to be poor.  All in all, a total of 309,300 households were covered in the said island provinces of which 202,258 are poor while 107,042 are non-poor.

The initial list of poor households will undergo community validation to give every household an opportunity to appeal or file a grievance before the database is finalized to ensure that the Listahanan 3 database will serve as a reliable reference for social protection stakeholders to utilize in the formulation, planning, and implementation of social protection programs and services, among others. ###

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Field Office 9 through the National Household Targeting Section (NHTS) officially culminated its last batch of training for Listahanan 3 Area Supervisors last Saturday, December 5, at Roderic’s Resort, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The 3-day orientation and training of the field personnel was one of the preparatory activities conducted by the regional office in line with the upcoming validation of the initial list of poor households generated from the Data Collection and Analysis Phase of the Listahanan project cycle. There will be two modes for the filing of grievances: community desk validation and online (https://listahanan.dswd.gov.ph/grievance/).

A total of 144 Area Supervisors will be deployed before the year ends, throughout the 72 cities and municipalities in the region. To be specific, 31 will be assigned to receive and process appeals or grievances in Zamboanga City and four in Isabela City, Basilan. Besides, there will be 42 field personnel each to be deployed in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, while 26 for Zamboanga Sibugay.

The training commenced on October 21-23, 2020 for Zamboanga City, Isabela City, and Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte clusters at Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City. Meanwhile, the trainings were also simultaneously held at JKC Royale Traders’ Inn in the Municipality of Liloy and Royal Farm Resort in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte last November 18-20.  Meanwhile, the Zamboanga del Sur cluster began its training one day ahead of Zamboanga Sibugay cluster. The training for ZDS was conducted at Chandler Suites, Pagadian City while the venue for the latter was at Roderic’s Resort, Ipil, carried out from December 3 to 5, last week.

The whole validation activity is expected to run for three months to include not only the receiving of appeals and grievances but as well as the assessment and re-assessment of households by enumerators (validators). This will be done to ensure that no one shall be left behind among poor households, and that the Listahanan 3 database will be complete, truthful, and credible before it is shared with the different national government agencies (NGAs) pursuant to the Executive Order No. 867 s. 2010 which provides for the adoption of Listahanan as the mechanism for identifying poor households who shall be recipients of social protection programs nationwide. ###

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The government’s official database of poor households through the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or Listahanan will be made available soon to national government agencies (NGAs) and other social protection stakeholders as DSWD Field Office 9’s preparatory activities are on-going before the commencement of the project’s third phase (Validation and Finalization Phase) this month.

In Zamboanga Peninsula, a total of 718,638 households were assessed from November 27, 2019 to February 8, 2020. Among its three provinces, 227,377 households were covered in Zamboanga del Norte while 184,741 were assessed in Zamboanga del Sur. In Zamboanga Sibugay, 129,267 households were interviewed during the data-collection period. Moreover, 156,055 and 21,198 households also participated in Zamboanga City and Isabela City, Basilan respectively during the said activity.

The Listahanan project cycle has four phases: Preparatory Phase, Data Collection and Analysis Phase, Validation and Finalization Phase, and Reports Generation and Management Phase. During the first phase, the identification of the areas to be assessed and the data-collection strategy appropriate for the areas were identified. All 17 regions, 81 provinces, 145 cities, 1,489 municipalities, and 42,045 barangays were covered by the household assessment.

During the succeeding phase, home visits were conducted to collect the socio-economic information of the households using Household Assessment Forms (HAFs). The data collected were encoded directly to the database using a data-entry application. All encoded information indicated in the HAF was subjected to Proxy Means Test (PMT)- a statistical model that approximates the family welfare level based on observable and verifiable proxy indicators of the household’s income such as materials in housing structure, household’s access to basic services and facilities like water and electricity, and ownership of specific assets, among others.

For the upcoming Validation and Finalization Phase, the initial list of poor households generated from the previous period will be posted in conspicuous places within the barangay to undergo community validation. This will allow the community to transparently review the accuracy of the initial list of poor households. Those who were not interviewed during the data-collection period may appeal for assessment. Appeals and grievances on household information and classification (whether poor or non-poor) will be received and evaluated through formal channels beginning with the Area Supervisor, followed by the Barangay Verification Team (BVT), and the Local Verification Committee (LVC). The BVT will be composed of Barangay Chairperson, First Kagawad, Kagawad in-charge of social services, one representative of a Civil Society Organization (CSO), and Sub-Project Management Committee Chairperson for KALAHI-CIDSS areas. The team will be tasked to evaluate the grievances received from the community together with the field personnel of Listahanan. On the other hand, the LVC will have the Local Chief Executive or his/her representative, City/Municipal Social Welfare Development Officer, City/Municipal Planning and Development Officer, and one representative from two CSOs as its members. They will resolve all the grievances filed, identify, and certify households that have not been assessed during the data-collection phase. Those households will undergo assessment and even re-assessment for those that will question their non-inclusion in the initial list of poor households. Furthermore, appeals and grievances may also be filed online through https://listahanan.dswd.gov.ph/grievance/.

After the list of poor is finalized, the DSWD produces the “Profiles of the Poor” and disseminates these to NGAs, local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), academe, and other interest groups as part of the Reports Generation and Management Phase of the Listahanan project cycle.

The Listahanan is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in the country. The system makes available to NGAs and other social protection stakeholders a database of poor households as reference in identifying potential beneficiaries of social protection programs and services. More importantly, it seeks to reduce the problems of leakage or inclusion of non-poor and at the same time, lessen exclusion or under-coverage of poor in social protection programs and services considering that the resources of the government is limited.  

However, the department clarifies that the project itself does not provide any cash aid to any beneficiaries, and having been assessed under Listahanan does not guarantee a family or household to be included right away in Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or in other social protection programs or services.

The department’s National Household Targeting Office (NHTO) spearheads the implementation of this project together with the regional offices of DSWD.

The first nationwide household assessment was conducted in 2009 wherein 5.2 million households were assessed out of the 10.9 million target households. In 2015, the number of poor households remained the same despite having a target of 15.4 million households which could mean that the status of poverty in the country somehow improved. In 2019, the household assessment began its implementation nationwide given the 16 million target households.  As of December 8 last week, 14,522,155 HAFs were already encoded from the 14,524,360 households assessed. ###

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) under the Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KKB) commenced the construction of Building for Women and Children in barangay Taluksangay, Zamboanga City following the groundbreaking ceremony held earlier today.

The construction of the identified sub-project is expected to be completed within 57 working days with a total cost of Php4,000,000.00 which includes training and comfort rooms, activity area  and other basic amenities.

The completion of the facility will serve as venue for gender-based violence and child abuse cases, augmentation to the local health center to accommodate more birth deliveries. It will also serve as a venue for all programs and projects of the Women and Children of this barangay as they look forward to it becoming a center for women and children’s affairs.

Present during the ceremony to represent the LGU was Vice Mayor Rommel Agan, barangay officials led by Hannah M. Nuño and Lilia M. Nuño, BSPMC Chairperson Mohammad Zen N. Johan, community members and Kalahi-CIDSS Regional Program Coordinator Narrabelle Z. Bue.

The Regional Program Management Office through RPC Bue commits to extend full support on the implementation as well as in the monitoring of the sub-project.

The LGU also expressed their wholehearted support and commitment to the construction of building for Women and Children and thank the department for the assistance provided. Likewise, congratulates the barangay for being the first recipient of Kalahi-CIDSS sub-project in Zamboanga City.

The community members through BSPMC Chair Johan acknowledged his fellow volunteers and other stakeholders like the teachers and the barangay administrative staff who worked hard for the completion of the requirements, commits to ensure the completion of the sub-project and be there to monitor and assist in the future programs and projects under the facility.

Regarded as the first Kalahi-CIDSS project in the city, they are very grateful to Senator Juan Edgardo Angara for the funding. The community is hopeful that this would not be the only project to be funded by the agency. Hence they would want this to be a model for Zamboanga City especially this is for the Women and Children project.

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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) turned-over a newly completed sub-project under the Disaster Response Operations Procedure (DROP) which is the Renovation of Old Multi-Purpose Building for Isolation Facility in Barangay Azusano, Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay last week.

The renovation of the four-room isolation facility started last September 18, 2020 and has been completed by October 31, 2020 with a total cost of Php370,905.00 with amenities such as beds, bedsheets and pillow cases, lavatory, water dispenser, tables and chairs, and complete set of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) like face mask, face shield, medical gloves, thermal scanner, alcohol, soap, bleach solution and hazmat protective suit.

The community was grateful to spearhead and become a recipient of the said sub-project in response to COVID-19 in their barangay. The Operation and Maintenance chairperson Generose F. Velez committed during the turn-over that they are willing to render voluntary services for the operation of the isolation facility with the supervision of the BLGU through the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) and the MLGU under the Municipal Health Office (MHO).

“Kasi buhay talaga ng mga residente ang maililigtas nito dahil ito ay para masugpo ang panganib ng pandemya at buhay rin ang mawawala kapag nagka-virus ang isang tao”. (Because it will really save lives of the people because this is intended to eliminate the danger of the pandemic at the same time life is also at risk when a person is contracted by the virus), said Velez.

The LGU through the Municipal Mayor Leonardo B. Talania expressed their gratitude to the success of DROP implementation especially the construction of isolation facility. He commended the community members for being so supportive to the program and urged them to cooperate with the government in the fight against COVID-19 by coordinating with the MHO whenever there is a need for any LSI to go through isolation or even quarantine.

The renovation of multi-purpose building for isolation facility is the first among the 20 sub-projects to be completed and turned-over to the Municipality of Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay under Kalahi-CIDSS Disaster Response Operating Procedure (DROP).

DROP ensures augmentation of resources to local government unit in response to COVID-19 through a Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.

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Following the shift to Disaster Response Operations Procedure (DROP) from its regular implementation due to pandemic, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) will fund a total of 246 sub-projects in Region IX this year.

The activation of DROP ensures augmentation of resources to local government unit in response to COVID-19 through a Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.

A total of Php187,217,698.24 will be allocated to CDD COVID19 disaster response in the region. Sub-projects to be identified under this procedure will focus more on the intervention to COVID-19 and on mitigating the effect of crisis to the communities.

Kalahi-CIDSS in Region IX is looking forward to construct community sub-projects as proposed and among these  include retrofitting and improvement of existing building for isolation facility, construction of isolation facility, purchase of medicines, purchase of personal protective equipment (PPEs), emergency supplies, water storage and amenities and cash-for-work scheme.

Despite a shorten approach in implementation this year, the program will see to it that the process will not be compromised, to be guided with CDD principles of transparency, accountability, inclusivity and participatory.

The program through the Disaster Response Operations Procedure (DROP) is implemented in 25 areas in Zamboanga Peninsula.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has announced recently that vaccine for the Novel Corona Virus 2019 will soon be available for Filipinos and the first to receive it are those who belong to the poorest sector particularly the members of DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

During his public address, President Duterte reiterated that his administration will ensure that the poorest of the poor will be prioritized along with the security forces once the vaccine arrives, the earliest on April 2021.

“Ang mauna sa bakuna..ay yung mga taong nasa listahan ng gobyerno na tumatanggap ng Pantawid. Ito yung mga mahirap.. (The first to receive the vaccine are those who are in the government’s 4Ps list.. They are the poor ones),” says Pres. Duterte.

The Chief Executive added that the vaccine will be free for poor Filipinos.

However, as much as the government wants all Filipinos to get the vaccine for free, due to limited resources, there will be prioritization in its distribution. And some may have to pay for the vaccine, especially those who can afford to pay for it.

Danny, a 4Ps beneficiary from Zamboanga City who recovered from Covid-19, expressed elation towards this good news.

“Wala may kinsa gusto maka-covid pero kung matakdan ta mga pobre, at least matabangan ta sa gobyerno kung naa nay vaccine (Nobody wants to acquire the virus but in case we get infected, at least the government will be able to help us once the vaccine is in),” Danny said.

The DSWD is yet to receive the policy governing this. The Department will be making the necessary preparations as soon as the guidelines are in place and the vaccine has been cleared for public use by the authorized agencies. 

Meanwhile, DSWD calls on 4Ps beneficiaries to wait for further announcement through its official social media platforms.

4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy of the national government with DSWD as the lead agency. It invests in the health, nutrition, and education of poor households for an improved well-being.  It is implemented nationwide with more than 4 million household beneficiaries. ###