DSWD-7 Honors Partner Stakeholders

To strengthen partnership with different stakeholders, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII recognized its beneficiaries, volunteers and communities during the 5th Panaghiusa Festival held recently at the Ayala Center Cebu.

District Representatives Peter John Calderon of the 7th Congressional District of Cebu and Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong of the 1st Congressional District of Negros Oriental were recognized for their significant contribution in sponsoring the 2020 budget of the Department and for their unwavering support to the implementation of its programs and services.

Exemplary volunteers and communities that are engaged in Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) and whose efforts significantly contributed to advancing compassionate and collective action in their respective municipalities were awarded through the Bayani Ka! Awards.
The United Farmers and Fishermen Association of Brgy. Malhiao, Badian, Cebu received the Sustained Community Volunteer Group award while Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) of Poblacion II, Sikatuna, Bohol received the award under the Improved Local Governance category.

Mr. and Mrs. Victor Lamay of Corella Bohol, Jocelyn Fabillar of Badian, Cebu and Norma Dupit Dusal of Sierra Bullones, Bohol won the award under the Elderly, Person with Disabilities (PWD) and Gender and Development (GAD) categories, respectively.

The DSWD also recognized the invaluable support of its key partner agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) through the Search for Best Pantawid Focal Persons who have demonstrated initiatives or innovations and went beyond monitoring of enrolment, attendance and compliance to conditions of the program.

For the health category the winners are the following; Gian Carlo F. Poliquit of Ginatilan Rural Health Unit, Ginatilan, Cebu (1st place), Leonila C. Binlod of Katipunan and La Paz Health Stations of Carmen, Bohol (2nd place), Nancy Lee S. Orano of Siquijor Rural Health Unit, Siquijor, Siquijor (3rd place) and Enriqueta S. Alabata of Tambojangin Barangay Health Station, Amlan, Negros Oriental (4th place).

Under the education category the winners are the following; Elisa G. Sarabia of Patao National High School, Bantayan, Cebu (1st place), Ferminia N. Villaruz of Batuan National High School, Batuan, Bohol (2nd place), Rolando S. Roa of Guba National High School, Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental (3rd place) and Gene T. Gica of Cabulihan Integrated School, Larena, Siquijor (4th place).

On its eight year of recognizing model Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries, family-beneficiaries in the region were also awarded for maintaining strong family ties, demonstrating positive Filipino values and have created a positive impact in the community.

The Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya search also disproves the misconception that program beneficiaries become too dependent on government aid and underscores the value of working together to achieve success.

The Elardo family of Brgy. Taytay, Badian, Cebu was declared the first place for the 2019 Regional Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya.

The Bohol family of Brgy. Poblacion, Mabinay, Negros Oriental bagged the second place, the Batac family of Brgy. San Isidro, Balilihan, Bohol, third place, and the Taroc Family of Brgy. Liloan, Maria, Siquijor, fourth place.

Special award was also given to the Elardo Family as the AlaGAD ng Pagbabago Award for championing better gender relations in their home and community. AlaGAD means Affirmative and Laudable Advocacies on Gender and Development.

Children beneficiaries were also recognized through the Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children Search. The search aims to recognize the children beneficiaries of the program who set excellent examples at home, in school and in their community.

Jhon Rhod C. Amodia of Brgy. Gabi, Cordova, Cebu bagged the first place.

His runners-up include Cleia B. Tadena of Brgy. Taytay, Duero, Bohol.; Shame A. Lagos of Brgy. Basac, Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental; and Kathleen Chen C. Pastrana of Brgy. Candaping A, Maria, Siquijor.

Two Indigenous People (IP) groups were also recognized during the awarding ceremony, namely; Eskaya Tribe of Candijay, Bohol and Sama Bajau Community in Brgy. Mambaling, Cebu City as IP model communities for 2019.

Two Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) associations were also honored through the SLP Sulong Bayanihan. The competition aims to showcase the SLP’s milestones in terms of promoting and facilitating the continuous development and strengthening the efforts to solidify the convergence of families and communities towards identification and building up of program champions.

Under the Micro Enterprise Development (Market Category), the Poblacion Pantawid SLP Association of Brgy. Poblacion, Moalboal, Cebu and Poblacion Talibon Association of Brgy. Poblacion, Talibon, Bohol were recognized for their success stories.

The awarding ceremony was preceded by the State of the Region Address (SORA) delivered by Regional Director Rebecca P. Geamala. She presented the accomplishment of the various programs and services to the invited guests composed of partner national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and program beneficiaries.