The Home for Elderly of the Department of Social Welfare and Development on Monday, August 19, 2019 celebrated its 30^th year anniversary as a residential facility for the aged.

Established on August 15, 1989 in partnership with Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, the Home for the Elderly is a regional facility operated by DSWD Field Office IX which provides temporary shelter and care to dependent, needy, neglected, homeless, unattached and abandoned Filipino Senior Citizens 60 years and above with no contagious disease.

The center aims to provide clients with residential care to enable them to lead normally and live life decently through provision of rehabilitative programs and services that are geared towards the maintenance of their physical, social and psychological functioning.

Following the Anniversary Mass presided by Rev.Fr.Jonathan Berdejo was the formal Inauguration and blessing of the completed CRCF construction, repair and upgrading projects. Two of the major highlights were the construction of the Multi-Purpose and Wellness Center with Infirmary Clinic and Aqua Therapeutic Building worth 3,336,805.82 and 2,305,000.00, respectively.

The inauguration was led by Undersecretary for Special Concerns Camilo Gudmalin, DSWD Regional Director Nestor B. Ramos and Assistant Regional Director for Operations Fatima S. Caminan.

DSWD Regional Director Nestor B. Ramos formally welcomed all the guests, staff and clients present during the affair. “I would like to welcome everyone in this significant occasion as we celebrate the 30strong years of the Home for the Elderly. I would like to recognize and thank the members of Secular Order for Discalced Carmelites who started the humble beginnings of this center. You are indeed part and parcel of this milestone.”, Director Ramos said.

In his message, guest speaker USec. Gudmalin shared the CRCF journey which made these developments and improvements into reality. He also mentioned how important it is to provide decent and comfortable stay for our clients after assessing the real situation of the 71 facilities nationwide.

“I would like to share three important things you need to remember for a successful project implementation, these are: Unity of Vision, Solidarity of Purpose and Teamwork in Action”, Usec. Gudmalin said.

He also underscored the department’s core value on “Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo” as reminder to our goal for the clients and also recognized the workers who painstakingly worked hard together for the realization of the projects through the leadership and monitoring of DSWD Regional Project Management Team.

DSWD Region IX was allocated with 126 Million Budget in 2017 to pursue the construction of the different CRCF projects in all seven centers in the region.

Apart from the major construction, Home for the elderly also underwent major upgrades and repairs on the following: Upgrading of Mess Hall (Php 1,325,494.25); Upgrading of Resident’s Quarters (Php 1,754,509.25) ; Repair of Houseparent’s Quarters (Php 121,000) ; Repair of Administrative Building (Php 339,500) ; Repair of Laundry and Linen Area (479,443.38) and Repair of Powerhouse (Php 143,000).

Center Head Georgina Suico expressed her gratitude for all the support extended and for the gift of the developments in their facility. She committed to take good care of these projects and utilize it to help improve the well-being of the elders who are staying in the center.

“This affair is not the end but just the beginning of a dream come true. Continue to pray for us here so we will be blessed with strength to embrace our mission effectively for our dear clients”, Mrs. Suico added.

To date, the Home for the Elderly caters 51 total clients where 21 are male and 30 are female, respectively. ##

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office IX conducted training on Good Practice Documentation and Lessons Learned cum Orientation on Knowledge Management for Sustainable Livelihood Program Field Implementing Project Development Officers (PDOs) on August 13-16, 2018.

Thirty Five Monitoring PDOs were capacitated in a 4-day training workshop held in Bamboo Garden, Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte. The said activity aims to demonstrate knowledge and skills in documentation and effective packaging of Knowledge Management products complementing the Sustainable Livelihood Program.

Monitoring Project Development Officers are responsible in ensuring proper interventions are provided to its program participants through evaluation of its impact. Part of their role is to identify good practices in every SLP association which can later be developed into a knowledge product.

Aside from the importance of Knowledge Management Framework, the Art of Capturing Tacit Knowledge was also discussed which enabled the participants to understand the principles, approaches and tools used for better appreciation and application. This has anchored their role in the processes leading up to knowledge management. Meanwhile, participants were also trained on Basic Writing, Photo and Video Documentation to strengthen their skills in capturing and developing success stories in their assigned municipalities.

The said activity was filled with interactive and informative brainstorming, lectures, structured learning exercises and other group activities to ensure application of the capacity building inputs to the participants

Knowledge Management refers to the management of organizational knowledge through a systematic and specific process for acquiring, organizing, sustaining, applying, sharing, and reviewing tacit and explicit knowledge in implementation to enhance SLP program and organizational performance.

###BernelySheilainede Leon

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Office IX will be sending Seven Community Volunteers to the 3^rd National Community Volunteers’ Congress cum 5^th Bayani Ka Awards on August 12-16, 2019 to be held in CARAGA.

This year’s National CV Congress will be anchored on the theme “PADAYON, Kalahi-CIDSS” which will see exemplary Volunteers all over the country gather for the 3^rd time to celebrate the gains of the program in the spirit of Volunteerism.

The activity will also serve as venue to exchange experiences and learning from the program implementation of not just the Community Volunteers but as well as some partner Municipal and Barangay Local Government Unit representatives.

The same manner, this activity aims to steer support from the participating stakeholders in pushing for the program’s institutionalization.

The seven Volunteers who will represent the region were chosen on the basis of their active participation as proud members of the community who supports developmental programs and project for the community throughout the region through CDD. They are the following: Susan Trazuna form Olutanga Zamboanga Sibugay, Teodora Apawon and Anecito Padayao Sr from Sindangan Zamboanga del Norte, Adelaida M. Abitona from Polanco Zamboanga del Norte,  Jenelyn Brillo from Pres. Manuel Roxas Zamboanga del Norte, Ifur Ronne from Rizal Zamboanga del Norte and Dorothea Dagalea from Siay Zamboanga Sibugay. ###

Carmelita Polinar, 51 is commonly known as Aling Carmen. She is a mother to her four loving children- Marj, Drin, Mica and Joyjoy. She is married to Alfredo Polinar, a full-time farmer. The couple raised their family through pure hard work and perseverance. Carmelita was a Barangay Secretary for almost nine years and spends her free time helping her husband Alfredo in their small farm. The couple planted rice and corn and maintain vegetable garden and planted root crops like cassava and camote which they sell to their neighbours to have an additional income to augment the daily needs of their growing family.

Carmen recounted that it was never easy being a parent. Having almost no leisure time to spend with her family, the couple have to spend most of their time working to be able to support their kids. Alfredo earns around Php4,000.00 every harvest from their rice and corn farm which happens every four months. While Carmen works as Secretary in the Barangay Office of Lala, Pagadian City since 2008-2017 and earns Php4,000.00 every month. The income of the couple is really not enough for the family but with the couple’s hard work and unconditional love for their children, they always try to find possible ways to provide for their family, even if it means working for extra time. Carmen even recalled that in 2010, they have to sell their cow to pay for the installation of Electricity of their home.

In 2012, Carmen was luckily included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. She was really thankful and seen it as a big help for their family.  In 2015, she heard about Sustainable Livelihood Program being introduced during one of their regular Family Development Session. She got interested and encouraged her co-beneficiaries to avail of the program. She led the organization of the group. In the same year (2015), with the cooperation of the members of their association composed of 96 Pantawid beneficiaries, they were granted with Seed Capital Fund under Micro-enterprise Development Modality amounting to Php 672, 000.00. They utilized their Capital Fund in Agri-loans; Microlending, and Wholesale of rice.

The Lala SLP Association offers money financing services to farmers to finance their farms and livestock production. Aling Carmen emphasized how much the livelihood program brought positive change to the members and their families and the community as a whole.

“Makita gyud nimu ang kausaban”, Aling Carmen stated.

She recounted that prior to SLP intervention, the community especially farmers have a really hard time sourcing out finances for their farm inputs, they mostly resort to Private Lending Services with higher interest rate. Plus they have to spend extra expenses in individually purchasing fertilizers and insecticides where they need to travel downtown. Their income from the farm is actually insufficient as they have to pay for extra expenses incurred before the harvest.

Now, farmers in Lala, Pagadian City are thankful to SLP for they were offered with agricultural loans with minimum rate and Lala SLPA is also engaging buy and sell of farm inputs at a lower price so the farmers will have lesser expenses and higher income.

While leading the association, Carmen decided to give up her work as a Barangay Secretary and focused her time with her family and the SLPA, since she need not to worry anymore for their expenses because they have established income-operating projects from the loan grant of the SLPA. Aside from their farming, they have also additional livestock production like piggery. The couple can now provide their children with their needs. Their daughter Marj, is now preparing for the Social Workers Licensure Exam while Drin is now studying in College as a full scholar student and Mica is in Junior High School and Joyjoy is now raising her own family.

Last 2018 Barangay Election, Aling Carmen tried her luck and file for Barangay Kagawad Candidacy and won. From a Barangay Secretary of 8 years, Aling Carmen is now officially serving the constituents of Barangay Lala, Pagadian City as a Barangay Kagawad. She is very happy for the opportunity given to her. She expressed her gratitude to 4Ps, SLP, and DSWD as a whole. As she said, her experiences with the programs of the agency have helped her become the person she is today. Her leadership skills were enhanced throughout the period and she can now spend quality time with her family since she can now manage her own time. She challenges her co-beneficiaries to strengthen cooperation and work towards the development of everybody.

“Ako silang gi-challenge nga mu-cooperate para sa paglambo sa asosasyon ug tarungon ug dala nga pirme magmakatinud anon sa pagdala sa asosasyon para masustain nila, ug sa mga ng kaproblema nga asosasyon, ako gi-challenge nga bangonon nila kaimka tabang man gihapon sa atua, sa atuang pamilya, ug sa atuang mga anak.”Aling Carmen challenges her co-beneficiaries.

Aling Carmen expressed her gratefulness to SLP, 4Ps and DSWD for she considered the program a huge help to them as individuals, family and community. Aside from the financial aspect which has a big contribution to all beneficiaries, she also acknowledged how much the program has helped not only herself but also co-beneficiaries enhanced their social skills.

“Mapasalamaton kayo ko sa SLP sa among nadawat nga livelihood nga nakatabang kayo namu ug dako, sa amung barangay labi na namu nga nanginahanglan aning asosasyon, Among dako kaayong pasalamat sa SLP labaw na nakatabang sa mga panginahanglan sa amoang mga anak. Unta mapadayunon ni ug makatabang pa sa mas daghan nga katawhan. Mao ni among pangandoy nga mapadayunon ni.

Mapasalamaton kayo kosa DSWD, una ani sa 4Ps nga mao dyuy una nga nasugdan nga naorganize mi ug na grupo mi ug nahatagan mi aning livelihood nga among gidawat nga karon dako na kaayong natabang sa amua, sa amuang barangay.” Aling Carmen gratefully said.

###BernelySheilaineDeLeon

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Field Office 9 is now accepting applications for the 608 newly posted vacancies in preparation for the upcoming third round of Listahanan assessment to be conducted in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, this year.

Specifically, 40 area coordinators, 98 area supervisors, and 490 enumerators will be hired to conduct house-to-house interviews throughout these provinces under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

A total of 352,894 households will be assessed in the region with Sulu having the biggest number of target at 193,826 households, followed by Basilan (81,386) and Tawi-Tawi (77,862).

All applicants are advised to submit their documents in four (4) folders to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) of their respective province to include their letter of intent addressed to the Regional Director – Nestor B. Ramos, Personal Data Sheet (PDS), and photocopies of their Transcript of Records (TOR) and other credentials (if any).

The deadline for submission in Basilan and Tawi-Tawi will be on August 19, 2019, while applicants in Sulu may still submit their documentary requirements until August 7, 2019. Furthermore, all screened and qualified applicants will have to undergo an IQ exam, essay exam, and a panel interview.

Under the Executive Order No. 867 series of 2010, the assessment is conducted every four years to obtain the latest data on the demographic, socio-economic, and sectoral characteristics of poor households nationwide. The Listahanan database provides a reliable source of information of “who and where” the poor are which can be used by social protection stakeholders in identifying potential beneficiaries of their respective programs and services, which will address the different dimensions of poverty in the long run.

For more information regarding the vacancies, visit us at https://fo9.dswd.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Listahan3_ARMM.pdf or see the infographics below:

“Daghan pangarap sa buhay pero kay pobre og kulang sa financial, ako gihapon kayanon para sa mga anak.” Said Geneboy.

A hardworking husband and a loving father of three children, Gene Boy D. Ojas, 43 grew up in Libuganan, San Miguel, Zamboanga Del Sur. Gene Boy’s wife, Evelyn Ojas, 37 is a resident of Manila who is still there looking for a job. They have three children, two of them are already attending school, the eldest is currently a grade 9 student and the latter is a preschooler and the youngest is still an infant. 

Being the lone income provider of the family Gene Boy incomes 30,000 pesos quarterly from farming crops such as corn or coconut. He also earns 500 to 600 pesos from their small sari-sari store. This money is just enough for his growing family expenses. Accordingly, the family expenses sums up to 200 pesos including his children’s allowance. Their monthly electrical fee is 380 pesos and he sends 3,000 pesos to his wife and their baby at Manila.

 “Lisod kay dili permamente ug dugay ang kwarta nga ginakuha sa copras ug maisan, dili dayon ka makahatag sa mga kinanglanon sa imong mga anak para sa ila ginaeskwelahan.” Geneboy sighed.

This is Gene Boy’s every day battle. Being the sole provider he works diligently looking for work and extra income such as, taking care of carabaos and livestocks. He doesn’t smoke and drink nor have any other vices. He is a family-oriented man focused on earning for his family.

Gene Boy’s hardworking and never tiring effort for his family have grown enough trust and attention among the society and being a 4P’s member of the Barangay he was recommended to join the SLP association. The members of the association then assigned Gene Boy to be their caretaker for the livestock.

“Ako sila dayon giingnan nga kong ako ang ila pillion nga mag caretaker sa baboy dili gyud sila mag mahay. Naa ko experience ug naa ko oras ug dili suha suha nga ihatag sa pag-alaga sa mga baboy.”

True to his words Gene Boy has enough experience taking care of livestock such as hogs because during his younger days he already experienced raising such. He now serves as the caretaker of the livestock of the association earning an added income of 4,500 pesos a month. He is now relieved that he can now give extra allowance to his children when they need it.

“Dili na parehas sa una nga mag ingon ko nila ‘paabuton sa nato nak ha ang kwarta sa maisan o copras’ kung naa sila kinanglanon sa ila mga project.” Said Gene Boy.

He is very happy that he can now give immediately to his children unlike before. Gene Boy still continues on being hardworking.

“Maintain lang gihapon, dili asa-asa muadto, dili pasmohon ang baboy, tan awon gyud ang trabaho, dapat systematic ka.”

“Pasalamat dako kay ako ang napili nila, lipay sila kay ang baboy dali nag dako, lipay ko kay dili nako mag pa abot tulo or upat kabulan para maka income.” – Gene Boy

The DSWD Field Office 9 is set to conduct the third round of Listahanan assessment later this year with 724,021 target households for Zamboanga Peninsula.

1,246 field workers who will be comprised of 40 Area Coordinators (AC), 201 Area Supervisors (AS), and 1,006 Enumerators will be deployed throughout the region.

The AC shall serve as the key focal person of the field office through the National household Targeting Unit (NHTU) in a designated regional area. With five supervisors under his/her direction, s/he shall be reporting directly. On the other hand, the AS shall assist the AC in the implementation of the project. With five enumerators under his/her direction, s/he will be reporting directly to the AC. Meanwhile, the enumerators will be the key persons who will be conducting the house-to-house assessment. The field workers are expected to maintain the confidentiality of all documents, information, and other matters related to the Listahanan.

Moreover, a total of 724,021 households will be covered by the assessment in the region. Among the target, 209,475 will be assessed in Zamboanga del Sur, 209,433 in Zamboanga del Norte, and 125,812 in Zamboanga Sibugay. In Zamboanga City, 156,955 households will be part of the assessment while 22,346 households will be interviewed in Isabela City.

The Listahanan is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are nationwide. It aims to establish a socio-economic database of poor households to serve as a reference in the formulation of programs and policies along with social protection. ###

The DSWD Field Office 9 attended the Community-Based Dialogue (CBD) conducted by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) which tackled issues on barangay settlement and referral system under the Republic Act No. 9262 or the “Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004” held on June 25 at Primera Hotel, Zamboanga City.

“Through the dialogue, we were able to discuss the role of the barangay in handling reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation,” said Rowena Eustaquio, Regional Focal for Women, Children, and Family.

According to her, the barangay is mandated to designate a gender-sensitive worker (kagawad or tanod) to be in charge of the barangay help desk that will receive and monitor VAWC cases and shall refer victims to the appropriate agency for the right intervention.

The worker in the help desk must enter reports in the barangay blotter for child abuse and domestic violence cases where this shall be kept confidential at all times. Meanwhile, anyone can report to the barangay, and if the report is made by a victim who is less than 18 years old, only personal circumstances must be asked from him or her. 

“The barangay is not allowed to make settlements of VAWC cases on their level. Their role is to primarily receive reports and refer clients to the right agencies for proper intervention,” clarified Eustaquio.

The objective of the said dialogue was to find a common ground and understanding of the issues and concerns with regards to barangay settlement and referral system. During the activity, the roles of each of the participating agencies were also discussed. Aside from the DSWD and CHR, other agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Health (DOH), and several barangay officials, to name a few, were also in attendance.

“The DSWD cannot save the world alone. We need a multi-stakeholder partnership to address the needs of our clients especially those who are victims of abuse and domestic violence,” she ended. ###