JAMINDAN, Capiz-One hundred- twenty beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, who are members of the Agambulong Sustainable Livelihood Association (ASLA) in Brgy. Agambulong, Jamindan, Capiz availed of a P 2.4 million financial assistance from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (DSWD-6).
DSWD-6 asst. regional director Joel Galicia together with SLP regional project coordinator Mary Ann Masculino and planning officer Ryan De la Gente, had personally turned over the check to the association headed by their president Roberto Selorio on Thursday (October 16).
Also, Jamindan Mayor Ethel Jinon together with Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members witnessed the turn-over ceremony.
Galicia said the financial assistance will be used as their seed money to raise native chicken and establishment of feed mill.
“We prioritize beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya in our programs and projects implementations because we are converging all our efforts to uplift them from poverty,” he said.
Galicia said through this project, this will help Pantawid Pamilya members to their livelihood that will sustain them, including the health and education of their children.
Meanwhile, Masculino said ASLA plays a big role in managing and expanding their micro-enterprise because the release of the assistance also comes with responsibility, which means that they will have to put the government’s assistance to good use and strive that it will grow.
Masculino said the implementation of the project will surely be successful if the association is equipped with a clear vision on how the project is being managed, passionate by loving their work and collective action to work together hand in hand.
“This is my challenge to all. Who knows, this place may be a home of native chicken in the near future”, she said.
On his part, Selorio accepted the challenge.
He said they will do their best to sustain the livelihood since the raw materials which they will be using in the feed mill could only be found around their surrounding like corn and beans.
Pantawid Pamilya is a program of the national government that aims to alleviate poverty through investment in human capital.
Under such program, beneficiaries may avail of P500 per month for health and nutrition, and P300 per month per child for education, for a maximum of three children per household.
Beneficiaries may avail of the cash grants provided that they comply with the following program conditions: (1) pregnant women must avail of pre and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by a trained health professional; (2) parents must attend responsible parenthood sessions, mother’s classes and parent effectiveness seminars; (3) 0-5 years old children must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines; (4) 3-5 years old children must attend day care or pre-school classes at least 85% of the time; (5) 6-18 years old children must enroll in elementary or high school and must attend 85% of the time; and (6) 6-18 years old children must receive de-worming pills twice a year.
As of July this year, the DSWD-6 has a total of 322, 276 Pantawid Pamilya household beneficiaries. (DSWD-6/Montesa Griño-Caoyonan)