Posted on by May Castillo

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VI (DSWD6) turned over on Thursday (August 29, 2013) more than P4 million worth of assistance to four towns in northern Iloilo.

1.Governor Arthur Defensor of Iloilo Province (second from right) and Mayor Arnold Betita of Carles, Iloilo witness the on-site payout of cash grants to beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program conducted during the Ombudsman Caravan of Social Services in Carles, Iloilo
1. Governor Arthur Defensor of Iloilo Province (second from right) and Mayor Arnold Betita of Carles, Iloilo witness the on-site payout of cash grants to beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program conducted during the Ombudsman Caravan of Social Services in Carles, Iloilo

DSWD6 Asst. Regional Director Joel P. Galicia said the turning over of assistance was the highlight of DSWD’s participation to the Caravan of Government Services that was held in the municipality of Carles.

Galicia said around 1,831 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program received their conditional cash grants covering the months of May and June 2013. The total amount released was more than P2.8 million.

The DSWD also turned over checks amounting to P1.16 million to the local government units of Ajuy, Carles, Concepcion and San Dionisio for the implementation of the Social Pension program. Of the amount, the LGU of Ajuy received P282,000 for 188 social pensioners; Carles with P339,000 for 226 social pensioners; Concepcion with P312,000 for 208 social pensioners; and San Dionisio with P235,500 for 157 social pensioners.

Pantawid Pamilya and Social Pension are just two of the social protection programs lead-implemented by the DSWD.

Pantawid Pamilya is a right’s based program that provides financial assistance to poor families with children aged 14 years old and below to help meet their needs on health, nutrition and education. Each eligible household receives P500 a month for health and nutrition, and P300 per child, for a maximum of three children, during school months for education.

Beneficiaries however, need to comply with the conditions of Pantawid Pamilya to avail of the cash grants. These conditions include availing of regular and preventive health services for children and pregnant mothers, maintaining at least 85% school attendance for children 3-14 years old; and attending the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS) for parents.

The Social Pension program, on the other hand, is an additional government assistance that provides P500 monthly stipend to indigent senior citizens aged 77 years old and above.

CARAVAN OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES
DSWD’s participation to the Caravan of Government Services initiated by the Office of the Ombudsman shows the Department’s commitment in bringing government services closer to the people, stressed Galicia.

For the past six years, the DSWD has joined nine Caravans in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental, helping serve more than 34,048 people. (DSWD6/ Alma Jornadal-Estember)