With its main objective to bring its services closer to the people, the Department of Social Welfare and Development conducted DSWD CARES in the Municipality of Mambusao, Capiz last December 4, 2017.

DSWD CARES stands for Community Advancement for Responsive and Empowered Society by Creating Awareness through Responsive and Excellent Services.

The event was attended by beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from thirty two Barangays of the Municipality of Mambusao, Province of Capiz.

Unlike the three previous DSWD CARES which selected Municipalities considered as Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), the Municipality of Mambusao, Capiz, on the other hand, was chosen because according to assessments, the implementation of DSWD programs and projects were hard to be carried out in the said Municipality.

“We decided to land this year’s last DSWD CARES in Mambusao, Capiz because we want the people to appreciate and deeply understand the Government’s efforts on social services which are intended to them,” said Ms. Diadem Pearl Tamara from the Regional Convergence Technical Support Unit.

Regional Project Coordinator, Ms. Mary Ann H. Masculino of the Sustainable Livelihood Program was present as the representative of DSWD Field Office VI for the presentation of DSWD Social Protection Programs and also officiated the turn-over of livelihood projects to various barangays from the Municipality of Mambusao, Capiz right after.

After the preliminaries of the program, the staff were ready to answer the queries from the beneficiaries but unexpectedly, the open forum was filled with only positive responses and gratitude from the participants.

“Given the somehow rough relationship shared between the agency and the municipality, the open forum was like a bright light for us. The positive responses from the people of Mambusao only shows how DSWD really touched their lives and we are very thankful for that,” said Masculino.

The open forum was followed by the release of cash grants for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipno Program beneficiaries.

The event also aimed to open a communication to the community members and to especially fill the gap between the local staff and the Management Committee.

“We are heartened to recognize that the people in Mambusao, Capiz welcomes us warmly and we too, want to use this opportunity to show how DSWD cares by hearing them out and personally delivering to them our programs and services,” Masculino finally stated./XzyrabelleServento/dswd6/