DSWD-4Ps staff receive FDS Kits to enhance service delivery in W. Visayas
ILOILO City – Case managers composed of City and Municipal Links of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the DSWD Field Office VI received their Family Development Session (FDS) Kits during today’s Roll-out Training on the Enhanced Social Welfare and Development Indicators (SWDI) Tool in Iloilo City.
Dir. Gemma B. Gabuya, 4Ps National Program Manager personally led the distribution of FDS kits, together with OIC-Regional Director Joselito G. Estember, Division Chief Belen P. Gebusion, and Division Chief Arnold dela Rosa of NPMO, to the first batch of staff from the provinces of Aklan, Antique, and Iloilo. A total of 244 FDS kits were distributed during this phase, forming part of the 725 kits to be distributed regionwide.
Dir. Gabuya said that the FDS Kits initiative serves as both an innovation and a form of logistical support for staff, so they can deliver services more effectively.
“The overall impact has been positive. Our country’s Conditional Cash Transfer is unique because we incorporated FDS as part of the program’s conditions,” she said.
She further emphasized that the 4Ps program brings about transformation, as households gradually improve their knowledge, attitudes, and skills.
“We believe that all beneficiaries have potential that only needs to be enhanced. Through FDS and these kits, staff are able to deliver quality sessions and foster meaningful engagement with beneficiaries, leading to their transformation and positive behavioral change,” she added.
THANKFUL
On behalf of the 4Ps staff of the Field Office VI, Dir. Estember thanked the national management led by Sec. Gatchalian for these FDS Kits.
“These FDS Kits support nationwide rollout of FDS which design to educate households on nutrition, health, education, financial literacy and active citizenship, among others. This address problem of 4Ps implementers on lack of IEC materials to improve system,” he said.
On her part, Municipal Link Arrian Pedroza of Altavas, Aklan, also expressed her gratitude to the Secretary, saying she was pleased to receive the kit. She shared that in her 11 years of service as an ML, there were times when conducting sessions was challenging due to the lack of materials and noisy venues.
With the provision of these materials, Pedroza said she can now conduct FDS sessions more effectively, ensuring clear messaging and a more convenient delivery.
Each FDS Kit contains essential tools such as manila paper, markers, lapel, masking tape, multi-copy paper, umbrella, ballpens, crayons, bristol board, and expanding envelopes, which are key materials used in the conduct of community-based learning sessions.
The initiative was borne out of Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s directive and the agency’s recognition of the logistical challenges faced by field implementers, particularly the lack of learning materials needed for effective facilitation of FDS./mgc (photos credit to SDAs Nelson Calacasan and Lobe Rose Chua)