The DSWD Field Office 9 through the National Household Targeting Unit (NHTU) is currently preparing for the upcoming Listahanan 3 assessment to be conducted later this year pursuant to the Executive Order 867, series of 2010 which requires the updating of the Listahanan database every four years. 

“Right now, we are doing some preparatory activities in line with the forthcoming assessment in October this year,” said Michael DS. Mustafa, head of NHTU.

According to Mustafa, a four-phase project cycle will be observed to guide the process of identifying the poor. These phases include Preparatory Phase, Data Collection and Analysis Phase, Validation and Finalization Phase, and Reports Generation Phase.

For Listahanan 3, the project cycle will run for 1 year and 2 months. “Since May 2019, we have already been working on with the first cycle.  The areas to be assessed and the data-collection strategy appropriate for those areas were already identified,” he added.

Furthermore, all provinces, municipalities, and cities across the region will be covered by the assessment. Apart from the identification of the areas, also included in the present phase are the updating of the Proxy Means Test (PMT) model, enhancement of the Listahanan information technology systems, hiring and training of field staff, and orientation of local government units (LGUs) and other project partners on the implementation of the L3 assessment.

“We will be deploying 1,247 field workers during the data-collection activity. They will be responsible for conducting house-to-house interviews to more than 700,000 target households,” he said. However, at present, the field office has yet to wait for the authority to hire before filling in the positions needed.

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. 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 the poor, particularly in social protection programs. ###

With the distribution of EMV-enabled cash cards to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) anticipates that there will no longer be OTC or Over-The-Counter payouts for Pantawid beneficiaries.

The grants of the beneficiaries will automatically be downloaded in their cash cards which can be used for withdrawal or swipe in stores.

As of May 31, the DSWD has already distributed a total of 140,958 EMV-enabled cash cards out of the 307,833 beneficiaries in region 9. The remaining 166,875 beneficiaries are to be scheduled to claim their cash cards in the next weekends.

Pantawid Pamilya Regional Program Coordinator, Ms. Flordeliza Alar-Atuy, said that the conversion of the payout scheme from OTC to cash cards will hasten the payout system and make it more convenient for beneficiaries to claim their grants from the bank.

“They can now withdraw their grants in their convenient time. If they have ATM near their area, they need not go to payout venues and spend extra money for fare,” Atuy said.

The conversion of beneficiaries to cash card holders is expected to be completed by 3^rd quarter of this year.

With this payout scheme, the department also advises the beneficiaries to withdraw their grants in full amount as the cash cards do not serve in the same purpose as a savings account.

Pantawid Pamilya is a social protection program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 0-18 and pregnant women. Program beneficiaries receive cash grants as they comply with the program conditions applicable to their households. The conditions are: pregnant women must avail pre and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by a trained health professional; parents must attend Family Development Sessions (FDS); 0-5 years old children must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines; 6-14 years old children must receive deworming pills twice a year; and children beneficiaries (0-18 years old) must enroll in school and maintain a class attendance of at least 85% per month. As of May 2018, there are 4.39 million active households in the program nationwide.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the DSWD is scheduled to conduct the last leg of distribution of EMV-enabled cash cards to its beneficiaries on June 15 and 16.

This is following the order of the program management that by June 30 all beneficiaries will be converted into cash-card holders from the previous over-the-counter payment scheme.

The schedule is made and agreed between DSWD and Landbank so as not to hamper the regular activities and transactions of the bank during weekdays.

More than 6,000 EMV cards will be distributed on the said dates including those who have not claimed their cash cards yet on the previous distribution schedule.

A total of 5,290 cash cards will be released on June 15 (Saturday) at Sangali and Culianan Covered Court that would cater to barangays Bolong, Bunguiao, Dulian, Lamisahan, Sangali, Cabaluay, Cacao, Culianan, Guisao, Lanzones, Lapakan, Manicahan, Mercedes, Pasobolong, Salaan, Talabaan, Taluksangay, Tolosa, Victoria, and Zambowood. Landbank will only conduct distribution of cash cards on the mentioned date. Activation of such will follow on a later schedule.

Meanwhile, 1,304 cash cards will be distributed and activated on June 16 (Sunday) at Landbank Main Branch in Pettit Barracks. This will cater the island barangays such as Busay (Sacol Island), Landang Gua, Landang Laum, Manalipa, Pasilmanta (Sacol Island), Tumalutab, Tigtabon, and Pangapuyan.

Beneficiaries are advised to bring their own medical and health maintenance, container for their trash, and if possible, not bring their children so as to avoid influx of people at the venue.

The conversion of beneficiaries to cash card holders will hasten and make payout transactions easier and more convenient for the recipients in the withdrawal of their grants from the program.

Pantawid Pamilya is a social protection program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 0-18 and pregnant women. Program beneficiaries receive cash grants as they comply with the program conditions applicable to their households. The conditions are: pregnant women must avail pre and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by a trained health professional; parents must attend Family Development Sessions (FDS); 0-5 years old children must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines; 6-14 years old children must receive deworming pills twice a year; and children beneficiaries (0-18 years old) must enroll in school and maintain a class attendance of at least 85% per month. As of May 2018, there are 4.39 million active households in the program nationwide.

The DSWD Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will launch a new campaign dubbed as Bata: Balik Eskwela (BBE) that aims to encourage children beneficiaries to enroll and maintain their attendance to school.

This campaign is anchored on the mandate of the program to keep children healthy and in school.

The BBE Campaign will be launched in partnership with the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela 2019 on the following dates: May 20 in Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur, May 23 in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay, May 24 in Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte, and June 03 in Barangay Sam Roque, Zamboanga City.

Moreover, this endeavor aims to address the issue on children who are consistently not attending school as monitored by the program.

“Isa ako sa mga pumunta noong nagkaroon ng orientation tungkol sa BBE. Doon ko nalaman na puede pala akong mag-aral sa Alternative Learning System kaya ngayong pasukan mag-eenroll na ako ulit,” Sitti Norhaya Madjid, Pantawid Pamilya monitored child in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

In a compliance analysis as of November 2018, the department has identified 1,125,293 children beneficiaries nationwide who were not attending school out of the overall 7,954,905 children (3-18 years old) beneficiaries.

As of to date, there is a total of 413,047 eligible Pantawid children in the entire Region IX of which 370,441 are monitored by the program.

Pantawid Pamilya is a social protection program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 0-18 and pregnant women. Program beneficiaries receive cash grants as they comply with the program conditions applicable to their households. The conditions are: pregnant women must avail pre and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by a trained health professional; parents must attend Family Development Sessions (FDS); 0-5 years old children must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines; 6-14 years old children must receive deworming pills twice a year; and children beneficiaries (0-18 years old) must enroll in school and maintain a class attendance of at least 85% per month. As of May 2018, there are 4.39 million active households in the program nationwide.

“Knock and shall be open unto you”. These verse mirror a woman who begs to God and seek for help. Blessed with abundance and love with the help of organization, her determination and faith were rewarded.

     Jenny Geliciano Bermudez is a resident of Balabay Bato at Brgy, SAnito, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. In 2007, they decided to settle down and were blessed with 2 children who ages 10 and 5 years old, respectively. Living in a province gives Jenny with mixed feelings because her children needed to walk to school which is 500 meters away from theirhome. There are rocks and footbridge ahead which makes her feel bad seeing their ripped shoes and feet with callouses. Happy at the same time because her children are contented on what they have.

Jenny’s husband, Feliciano, works in a bakery shop for 17 years.He started as a janitor and dishwasher at the same time with a monthly salary of php3,000 pesos. Seeing how hardworking Feliciano is, he was then promoted as a cook. Aside from working in a bakery shop on daylight, he also drives a habal-habal at night to augment their income. Jenny on the other hand is a housewife and is responsible to look after her children. When Jenny finds vacant time, she gleaned for shellfish in a coveand cook some viands to sell in the neighbourhood. By this, she can contribute to her family even with meagre income. .

During the time when Jenny delivered her first child, Eizel, his husband started to experience difficulty on earning money. When Eizel got sick he could no longer afford to bring her to the hospital for check-ups. Jenny realized how hard life is but she never felt discouraged even though their primary problem is insufficient to put food on table. This resulted even todiscover that her daughter is malnourished as declared by the Barangay Household Worker. She continued further the simple earning she does to ensure her family won’t suffer from these struggles.

     In the year 2013, the Department of Health launched a Feeding Program for malnourished children where her daughter became a recipient. All the mothers with malnourished children decided to create a group named “Sanito Motherhood Association”. This association is composed of mothers with malnourished children which aim is to help and assist the agency in the feeding program during the activity

After the creation of the said association, some opportunities and blessings from other agencies were poured out to them. Jenny and the rest of the mothers were given the Skills Training on on Meat and Fish Food Processing given by the BFAR to includethe askills training on bread and pastry given by TESDA. Another skills training on banana chips making, peanut butter, peanut brittle, sweet coated and salty peanuts with starter kits was also given by the DOST. DSWD KALAHI-CIDDS on the other hand shared physical resources like the training centre, electric fans and others.

On 2014, Ms. Jenny and her husband decided to acquire a house to live.  They were able to acquire a simple house, the floor is made of bamboo, while the roof is made of half nipa and half plain sheet.

Jenny alsoplants vegetables in their vacant lotto augmentin their family’s food consumption. She also raised some chickens. On August 11, 2015, Ms. Jenny was hired and served as (BHW) Barangay Household Worker in their barangay.

On March 2016, the DSWD-Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) came in to give opportunities to the “Sanito Motherhood Association”, After the training, they were granted a financial assistance throughSeed Capital Fund project amounting to Php390,000.00. Their group name now became “Sanito Motherhood Pantawid SKA”. Their association serves catering services and food processing. Coming from their funds, they were also able to acquire a small vehicle to carry and transport their equipment during caterings.

Jenny said that after the implementation of SLP, aside from their earnings in banana chips and other products, each member is given a chance to earn extra money through rendering their services during the catering activity. She earns at Php200.00 in every catering service. Their association caters public and private sectors, with at least 2-3 clients on average every month.

Jenny is overwhelmed even after joining the SLPof DSWD. Shebecame known in the community and got a chance to become a temporary MLGU enumerator for the census. This means she will be paid for the services rendered as an enumerator. She is gratefulon the changes brought by these blessings in their life now. The health of their children isnow in good condition, they have convenient shelter to live, a little vegetable garden for consumption and some chickens for selling in due time. Above all, they can already to afford to eat regular nutritious meals,buy new clothes for her children and other important things.

Having a better life now, Jenny and her husband talked about having their own little fast food store. All her dreams for her family slowly came true.

Jenny is thankful to all the agencies that one way or another helped her and the association to make their lives better. She is also thankful to the people behind the SLP-DSWD who continuously give their untiring services to the poor and vulnerable.

“Daghang salamat sa tabang gikan sa SLP-DSWD, kaning gihatag ninyo sa amoa makatabang dyud og dako labi na sa akong pamilya”.- Jenny Bermudez###

###BernelySheilaineDeLeon/Carolyn Baylon

“Gusto gyud ko nga makabaton ug kaugalingon nga negosyo aron moasenso among panginabuhian alang sa kaugmaon sa akong mga anak” expressed by Annaliza when asked about her biggest dream in life.

     Annaliza Panawan is a mother of four children who lives in Purok Riverside, Brgy. Olingan, Dipolog City Zamboanga del Norte.

She spend most of her days at home as a housewife who took care of their humble abode. Her husband, Ranulfo Razaga Panawan Sr, drives a tricycle to support their living. He usually earns 200-400 pesos a day which is barely enough to sustain their everyday family needs. On 2012, her husband caught an illness which made him decided to stop driving.

 “Matud pa sa doctor tungod sa pasmo mao nga nagkasakit akong bana ug dugay gyud kini nga na-confine sa hospital” Annaliza said. Unfortunately, the tricycle which is the only source of income need to be sold in order to defray the expenses of his husband’s hospital bills.“Igo-igo ra gyud kini nga gibayad sa hospital apan nagpasalamat ra gihapon ko sa kahitas-an nga bisan pa ug nabaligya ang maong franchise, mao kini nakatabang nga maluwas ang akong bana nga mao ra gyud ang gisaligan unta sa among panginabuhian” she added.

     Since Ranulfo temporarily cannot work and provide for the family because of his condition, Annaliza need to exert his ways to provide for the famiy thinking all her children are also going to school.

     In 2014, Annaliza was able to avail Sustainable Livelihood Program’s SEA-K assistance. She was granted with an amount of php10,000.00 which she planned to use to start up a business. Fortunately, a friend also offered help for an additional fund to pursue the business plans, “Adunay ni-finance namu ug php15,000.00 sa pagnegosyo ug pig butchering ug tunga kami sa ginansiya, ako ang mulihok ani ug sa panahon nga medyo naulian na ang akong bana kaming duha ang timbang sa maong negosyo, ug maka-ginansya kami ug tag php6,000.00 kada bulan”. Annaliza said

“Hago kaayo ang maong negosyo ug maingun gyud nga alkansi kami kay ang nag-finance igo ra man sa pagdawat ug limpyo/ginansiya” she added.

“Makaihaw kami ug 2 heads of pig kada semana pero ug medyo mahal ang isda maka-ihaw mi ug 3 heads of pig” Annaliza further narrated.

Through the successful manifestation of their livelihood, they were able to pay some of their bills. “Kaluoy sa Ginoo maka gross income kami ug tag php3,000-4,000 per day ug tungod sa maong pagnegosyo nga diin utang2x pa sauna karun dili na gyud kay aduna na kami kaugalingon nga pwesto sa highway sa Olingan Wet Market nga cash basis na gyud tanan”.

Analiza even pointed out that because of their perseverance, the business continues to flourish. Through this, they were able to buy freezers for their additional frozen products like dressed chicken aside from the regular pork meat that are being sold in their store. Today her husband is back on track on driving the tricycle, “Ang motor nga kanhi gigamit pamasahero sa akong bana, gitauran na kini ug sidecar gamit pagpangompra ug baboy”. Her husband also receives “pa-lechon” labor for php500 per pig.

Analiza expressed her appreciation on DSWD for the assistance provided to them, “Dako gyud kaayo ko ug pasalamat sa DSWD pinaagi sa SLP kay nakahulam ug php10,000.00 sa SEA-K nga gigamit gyud naku sa pagnegosyo ug ako gyud kini  nga giimpasan sa wala pa miabot ang termino kay nindot ra gyud paminawon nga maimpas ang utang.”

     Annaliza and her husband are hands-on in running the business. Her dream of having a livelihood and sustainable income come into reality if not because of DSWD and Sustainable Livelihood Program which assisted them all throughout the process. She knew how hard it is to begin but her family being the driving force to succeed in life challenges became her armor to face the stumbling blocks. They could not thank enough the Almighty Father for using the Sustainable Livelihood Program as an instrument to answer their prayers.

###BernelySheilaineDeLeon

The Municipal and Barangay Local Government Unit of Siocon joined the Barangay Sub-project Management Committee (BSPMC) on the ground-breaking ceremony of the 300 linear meter Road Concreting with Slope Protection sub-project at Sitio Tabuk, Makiang, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte on April 8, 2019.

The said sub-project is under NCDDP Cycle 4 implementation of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) with a total cost of Php3, 011,346.00.

The community sees the need for road concreting since most of the people who lives in Sitio Tabuk has been isolated due to inaccessible road condition. The completion of this sub-project is expected to create opportunity for farmers to carry out products to Poblacion and provide ease in access to basic social services for the community in Tabuk.

Barangay Makiang has also been a recipient of 80 linear meter Drainage Canal for cycle 1 with a combined KC grant and Local Cash Counterpart of Php730,367.00, Ricemill Building with Equipment for cycle 2 at Php1,333,406.00, and 2 unit 2 classroom High School building for cycle 3 at Php3,180,524.

BSPMC Chairperson Maria Venus Villaluna expressed her appreciation to the program, as said during an interview “Nalipay kaayo mi mag boluntir sa Kalahi bisan pa man sa kalisud kay daghan ug trainings, responsibilidad isip boluntir nga usahay ma byaan ang amuang panginabuhian, pero nalipay kame kay nakatabang mi sa amuang barangay. Gikan 1st cycle hangtud 4th cycle kame na prioritized maong daku kaayo mi ug pasalamat sa Kalahi-CIDSS sa DSWD ug sa suporta nga gihatag usab sa MLGU ug BLGU para ma mugna kining amuang mga projects”.

(We are happy to volunteer with Kalahi despite the difficulties on numerous trainings, with our responsibilities as volunteers sometimes we set aside our work, but we’re happy that were able to help our barangay. We were prioritized from 1^st cycle to 4^th cycle that is why we are very much appreciative on Kalahi-CIDSS, of DSWD and the support provided by MLGU and BLGU to realize these projects, said Villaluna).

Municipal Mayor Julius S. Lobrigas led the ground-breaking ceremony and followed by the unveiling of signage with Vice Mayor Nathaniel Usin, SB members and BLGU officials. ### (JGA)

The DSWD Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program’s petition No. 0457-19 that seeks to be exempted from the election ban following the communications sent by the Office of the COMELEC Secretary has been granted by the Commission En Banc.

It can be recalled that the COMELEC forwarded a communication that prohibits government agencies to release and disburse public funds effective March 29 to May 12, 2019.

The petition filed by the DSWD is for COMELEC to (a) acknowledge the routine and normal expenses of the department; and (b) authorize the DSWD to continue its ongoing and undertake possible disaster relief, early recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

Pantawid Pamilya is considered as among the routine and normal expenses of the department hence it may proceed with its top-ups or loading of cash grants as scheduled.

For Region 9, grants will be deposited in the cash cards of the beneficiaries on April 12. This covers Period 6 or December 2018 to January 2019 period with the total amount of PHP 242,517,700.00 or 67,465 beneficiary households.

Furthermore, the distribution of EMV-enabled cards to beneficiaries and re-carding of their cash cards shall also be continued as part of the regular activities of the program.

Last April 6, beneficiaries from District 2, 3, and 4 in Zamboanga City gathered in front of LandBank Main Branch to have their cash cards replaced by EMV-enabled cards.

As of to date, there is a total of 307,834 Pantawid Pamilya households in the entire Region IX. 50,575 of which are from Zamboanga City, 9,568 from Isabela City, Basilan, 56,541 from Zamboanga Sibugay, 88,824 households from Zamboanga del Sur, and 102,326 Pantawid households in Zamboanga del Norte.

Pantawid Pamilya is a social protection program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 0-18 and pregnant women. Program beneficiaries receive cash grants as they comply with the program conditions applicable to their households. The conditions are: pregnant women must avail pre and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by a trained health professional; parents must attend Family Development Sessions (FDS); 0-5 years old children must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines; 6-14 years old children must receive deworming pills twice a year; and children beneficiaries (0-18 years old) must enroll in school and maintain a class attendance of at least 85% per month. As of May 2018, there are 4.39 million active households in the program nationwide.