Posted on by Montessa Caoyonan

Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries from the IP Communities of Antique province attentively listening updates from the speaker during the IP Information Caravan.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 is celebrating October as Indigenous Peoples (IPs) month under the Presidential Decree 1906 of 2009 based on the constitutional mandate to recognize and protect the rights of indigenous cultural communities towards national unity and development.

With this, the Department through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program conducted an Information Caravan to IPs community in Brgy. Tina, Hamtic, Antique on Thursday last week (October 12, 2017).

Around 180 IPs mostly 4Ps beneficiaries coming from two municipalities of Hamtic and Tobias Fornier had attended the whole day activity which were participated by partner agencies such as National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), PhilHealth, Philippine National Police, LGUs, Antique Provincial Government, Barangay Officials of Barangay Tina and DSWD staff particularly the Antique Provincial Operations Office.

Participating partner agencies gave their updates on the different programs and services they are offering for IPs while the PNP discussed how to protect themselves against Violence against Women and Children (VAWC). The NCIP together with IP Desk Officer of Antique Provincial Government also tackled the rights of IPs and its services that the IPs could avail from them.

IP tribe leader Perlita Oyong of Barangay Tina, Hamtic is very thankful for the opportunities given to them by the DSWD where they could have chance to clarify some of their concerns particularly on their resettlement issues.

“We are also inviting other agencies to visit our barangay just like this information caravan so that our concerns will be addressed directly to proper authorities or agencies concerned.”

On the other hand, Carl Myson Dulla, IP Focal of Pantawid Pamilya said that the activity is very beneficial to all the IP participants because the services and programs which offered by our partner agencies were brought closer to them in just one activity.

“They need not to go somewhere else and spend their money just to reach our concerned agencies. Through this activity, we are empowering our IPs particularly our 4Ps beneficiaries so that they will be equipped with more knowledge about their rights and other services they may avail from our government”, he said.//MGC