The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay recently approved an ordinance that prohibits any person and/or business establishment to require and/or accept cash cards of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as collaterals for financial loans.
The ordinance stipulates the prohibited acts as specified in the National Advisory Council (NAC) Resolution No. 20 of the 4Ps program to include the use of 4Ps cash card and other program documents as collateral/s for loans, requiring or accepting 4Ps cash cards in obtaining any form of financial accommodation, and other similar transactions involving 4Ps cash cards.
It also cites the corresponding penalties to be imposed on individuals and business entities that will engage or violate such ordinance.
For private individuals and government official/employees the following penalties are enacted.
For the 1st offense, a violator will be fined with Two Thousand Pesos (Php 2,000.00) charge for every 4Ps cash card/program document; for the 2nd offense, a fine of Three Thousand Pesos (Php 3,000.00) for every 4Ps cash card/program document; and for the 3rd offense, a fine of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00) for every 4Ps cash card/program document or imprisonment of not exceeding One (1) year or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.
Any group or lending business establishment is also prohibited from requiring or accepting 4Ps documents as collaterals for loans from their clients.
A fine of Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php 2,500.00) for every 4Ps cash card/program document will be charged to a violator for his 1st offense; Three Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php 3,500.00) fine for every 4Ps cash card/program document for his 2nd offense; and Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00) for every 4Ps cash card/program document and/or revocation/cancellation of the business permit shall be imposed for his 3rd offense.
Prior to the approval of the ordinance, the 4Ps Provincial Operations Office of Zamboanga Sibugay Province headed by the Provincial Link Evalinda Jimeno had several meetings with the author of the ordinance, Hon. Marie Yvonne V. Palma and co-authors Hon. Ma. Bella C. Javier and Hon. Jonathan C. Yambao where they discussed issues involving the alarming reports of cash card pawning.
As a result, the ordinance was enacted on March 09, 2021 and approved by the Provincial Governor, Hon. Wilter Yap Palma last March 24, 2021.
There are 1,656 reported cases of cash card pawning in Zamboanga Sibugay of which 34 accounts have already suspended and others are still being validated.###
In a world where physical strength rules and where generally men dominate, where does a woman stand? The answer is at a slaughterhouse.
Meet Luzvilla Quicay-Salbidos or simply Bella, a 43-year-old mother of four, who works at a slaughterhouse as a Butcher. To many, it may seem odd that a woman is working at a slaughterhouse where physical strength and endurance are two of the major qualifications for a job. But Bella does not seem to care, and neither do we.
Bella shares her story in an interview.
We visited Bella at her workplace all the way in Bangkerohan, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay as we are searching for empowered women who demonstrates strength and perseverance amidst gender stereotyping issues.
Her hands are still soaked and wet from the work that she has been doing in the slaughterhouse since 2 in the morning. Her fingers are all pruney and wrinkled as she welcomes and tours us in her workplace.
It is a big, high-ceiling room with plastic curtains that cover the doors. The floor is wet and a little bit slippery. You can definitely smell the flesh of the meat and the moisture build-up inside the room.
Bella shares that out of 35 employees in the slaughterhouse, 33 are men and only 2 of them are women. According to her, despite the overwhelming difference in ratio, her gender does not define the quality of work or the performance that she gives.
“Kailangan hindi ka malamya kumilos, parang lalake ka rin kumilos. Makisabay ka sa kilos nila na mabilisan. (Acting clumsily is a no no. You must keep up with the fast pace performance of men.)” Bella said.
As a mother of four boys, Bella inculcates this aspect to her children. She says that gender roles have never been an issue in their household. Ever since, she has taught her children the value of gender equality. As a matter of fact, her boys learned to do household chores that are typically considered and are associated with women in a stereotyped society.
“Sabi ko hindi porket lalake kayo ay hindi na kayo gagawa ng gawaing bahay. Ganon yung sinasabi namin sa kanila, gender-equality. (I tell them just because they are men does not exempt them from doing household chores. We teach them about gender-equality,)” Bella added.
Gender-equality is discussed in the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries as one of the modules that are taught to 4Ps beneficiaries. FDS is a monthly meeting of 4Ps beneficiaries where they learn modules on parenting, financial management, gender and children rights, among others.
Back to Bella’s workplace, her husband, Ronald, greeted us with a smile on his face and a butcher knife on his hand. He had just finished his duty and was waiting for Bella for them to have breakfast together.
They both work in the same slaughterhouse and earn 200 pesos from butchering and cleaning a whole cow. They start working from 2 in the morning until to 2 in the afternoon.
After their shift in the slaughterhouse, they go back home to take care of their new business venture in rice-retail that they hope would help them in their financial stability. They also prepare for the arrival of their kids from their online schooling.
85 Indigenous People (IP) families from the Municipality of Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay have received motorized boats as livelihood kits from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) under the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) track.
Turn-over Ceremony of Motorized Boats to MCCT Associations in 4 Barangays of Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay Province
Four barangays and associations benefited from the initiative namely: Taguisian Islanders Association (42 beneficiaries); Tandu-Comot Taguisian Islanders Association (22 beneficiaries); and CaliPam (Caliran and Pamansaan) Islanders Association with 21 beneficiaries.
The turn-over of livelihood kits was possible through the Support Service Intervention (SSI) feature of the program which aims to uplift the socio-economic status of the MCCT beneficiaries through services such as Cash For Work (CFW), livelihood assistance, grassroots organizing activities, family camp, and rent subsidy for Homeless Street Families (HSF) and IP Itinerant beneficiaries.
The Department has utilized a total amount of P360,000 for these motorized boats livelihood SSI.
According to the MCCT Focal in DSWD-9, Germiah Bongabong, “the 4Ps program does not only provide grants for the beneficiaries. More than that, we engage and empower them through capacity building and skills trainings so they themselves could create livelihood opportunities in their communities.”
Missong A. Hadjael, 35, a member of Sama Tribe in the municipality of Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay, recounted his story as a beneficiary of the 4Ps MCCT as he gratefully rides his new motorboat.
Missong Hadjael on his first ride on the newly turned-over motorized boat to their association.
“Malaking tulong ito sa aking pamilya para matustusan ko ang mga pangangailangan nila, lalo na sa pag aaral ng anak ko… natutugunan ang aming pangkabuhayan, gaya nito napabilanga ako sa isang asosasyon na kung saan kami ay nabigyan ng pumpboat na magagamit namin para madagdagan pa ang aming pangkabuhayan. (This is a big help to my family so I could provide their needs especially in the education of my children.. our livelihood needs are met such as this motorized boat which we acquired from being part of the association),” Hadjael said.
The DSWD provides cash aid to the IPs, especially those living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) through its Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program. As of today, the program has a total of 95,653 active beneficiaries in Region 9.
DSWD’s Memorandum Circular No. 2 series of 2018 states that the cash transfer program is a sub-component of the 4Ps, which uses a modified approach in implementing the conditional cash transfer program for poor families, including homeless street families (HSF), IPs, and Families in Need of Special Protection.
Turn-Over Ceremony held at Pamansaan, Municipality of Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay last February 23, 2021
ZAMBOANGA CITY – In order to ensure the credibility of the government’s database of poor households, communities are encouraged to take part during the regional validation of Listahanan 3’s initial list of poor households beginning next week in Zamboanga City, Isabela City, Basilan, and Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.
Those (households) who are concerned can either file an appeal or grievance through the Community Desk Validation designated in their respective barangays or online filing via https://listahanan.dswd.gov.p/grievance/.
After the posting of the initial list of poor households in conspicuous places in the barangays, the receiving and resolving of grievances shall begin immediately and will be done at least for four weeks.
The Listahanan 3 Area Supervisor (AS) assigned in the barangay shall be responsible for the receiving and processing of all grievances using the Validation Search Application (VSA). Only grievances from households residing in the barangay shall be accommodated by the assigned field personnel.
Meanwhile, all grievances received through the Listahanan 3 Validation website shall be synchronized with the VSA and Grievance Tracking and Monitoring System (GTMS) for processing.
Furthermore, those households in rural barangays/puroks/sitios that were not covered during the Data Collection Phase will no longer be required to file grievances. They will be automatically included in the list of households for assessment.
As a rule, any person can inquire whether an individual is in the initial list of assessed households for Listahanan 3. However, the complainant must adhere to the conditions of filing a grievance. He or she must provide his or her complete name, name of the person being inquired about, and nature of complaint or grievance.
The AS will then check if the person being inquired or complained has a record in the database. If no record is found, the AS shall require the complainant to provide other household information.
The AS will take note of all the names requested to be searched, and whether they were found or not found in the database. He or she is tasked to classify the nature of every complaint received.
Upon determination of the complainant’s grievance, the AS must first establish his or her eligibility by requiring him or her to provide significant information regarding the concerned household. The complainant should also present any government-issued ID or valid photo ID as proof of identity. If he or she is unable to do any of the above, the AS shall inform the complainant that (1) he or she has failed the verification procedure and (2) another eligible person can come and file a grievance.
For those appeals related to re-assessment of the household, the AS will have to inform the complainant that: (a) the conduct of re-assessment shall be decided by the Barangay Verification Team (BVT) and Local Verification Committee; (b) the re-interview shall be unannounced; and (c) there will only be one attempt to secure the interview. The AS will write the Tracking Number and the name of the complainant in the corresponding Consolidated Grievance Log and the complainant will be required to affix his/her signature or thumb mark in the space provided for the complaint to be valid.
On the other hand, the validation activity for the remaining provinces or areas in Zamboanga Peninsula will begin its operations next month.
To know more about the different grievances that can be filed, kindly refer to the info graphic below:
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Field Office 9 clarifies that Listahanan or sometimes referred to as Listahanan 3 (pertaining to the project’s 3rd round of implementation) is entirely different from the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) implemented by several national government agencies (NGAs), as confusion arises among the netizens based on their comments and the countless queries related to the matter received in the official Facebook page of the field office.
The Listahanan is an information management system/database that provides socio-economic information of the poor households nationwide. It was created to establish an objective targeting system and address the problems of leakage (inclusion of non-poor) and under-coverage (exclusion of poor) in social protection programs and services.
SAP on the other hand, is a measure intended to help the poor and other vulnerable families that were greatly affected by the imposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) last year, to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 health crisis.
The DSWD was one of the NGAs that provided social amelioration measures including cash and non-cash subsidies in the amount of at least P5,000 to a maximum of P8,000 depending on the minimum wage rate per region. In the case of Region 9, P5,000 were provided to those qualified household (or family) beneficiaries.
This year, the Listahanan Validation and Finalization Phase will be conducted in the region to allow the community to review the initial list of poor households generated from the regular household assessment conducted from November 27, 2019 to February 8, 2020.
During the upcoming validation, the initial list of poor households will be posted in conspicuous places at the barangay for the community to scrutinize. Households that were not visited during the regular assessment will be given a chance to appeal for assessment while those that were not identified as poor in the initial list may also undergo re-assessment subject for evaluation by the Area Supervisor assigned in the barangay and the Barangay Verification Team (BVT). After validation, the official and final list of poor households will be shared with data users particularly to NGAs (Executive Order No. 867 s. 2010) and other stakeholders to serve as their reference in the formulation and implementation of social protection programs and services.
The DSWD Field Office 9 also clarifies that even if a certain household was assessed by Listahanan; however, it does not guarantee a household inclusion to 4Ps and SAP especially that the latter has only two tranches in terms of its implementation. For more information, kindly see the info graphic below detailing the differences between Listahanan and SAP in Filipino language:
As they continue to improve their programs and services, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently approved stiffer policies in the implementation of the country’s conditional cash transfer program known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
One of which is the newly released Memorandum Circular 38 or the Guidelines on the Commission of Prohibited Acts by Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Beneficiaries during State of Calamity or National Emergency that provides for stiffer policies against erring beneficiaries.
This came about as a result of the reports received by the program implementers that there were beneficiaries who misused the grants under the Social Amelioration Program particularly for illegal activities.
It can be recalled that the Department declared a public health emergency last March 2020 which put the compliance of program conditionalities of 4Ps on force majeure and allowed program beneficiaries to received cash assistance as stipulated in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
“We continuously improve the implementation of our program by ensuring that our beneficiaries adhere to the guidelines set in our Implementing Rules and Regulations. These policies certainly protect our beneficiaries so they would not resort to activities that would worsen their level of well-being,” OIC-Regional Director of DSWD-9, Fatima S. Caminan said.
Caminan added that the circular hopes to guide the beneficiaries and help them understand that the benefits that they receive are financed through government funds. As such, they are reminded that cash assistance must be put to a good use and should not be spent outside of what it is intended for, more so for illegal activities. These policies encourage the program beneficiaries to be more responsible and prudent in the use of the benefits afforded to them.
If a member of the household beneficiary will be found out engaging in any prohibited act as stated in the circular, release of cash grants shall be automatically suspended and erring member together with the rest of the household would need to undergo case management. Reinstatement of household shall be based on the recommendation of the case worker assigned.
4Ps which was enacted into law in April of 2019, is the government’s major poverty alleviation program that invests in health, nutrition, and education of the poor eligible households. These alongside with the psychosocial and psycho-educational component provided through the Family Development Session leading the beneficiaries to an improved and sustained well-being.
Among the program conditionalities include enrolment and attendance of children aged 4-18 in school; deworming of at least twice a year for children aged 6-14; pre and post-natal check-ups for women; preventive check-ups to children aged 5 and below and attendance to monthly Family Development Session.
Currently, the program is being implemented nationwide covering more than 4.3 million households of which 287,165 are active households that received SAP in Zamboanga Peninsula as of previous period.
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 23rd 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 3rd graders and higher.
As of today, the community only caters to grade 1 and 2 pupils. 3rd 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), 102nd brigade / 44TH 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 44th 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. ###
