650 4Ps families access services

in DSWD-AUDIO info caravan

PILAR, Bohol (PIA)— How do you make sure the benefits of the government’s conditional cash transfer sustain to empower 650 families from 4 cluster towns who are exiting the program this year?

For the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas, partnering with the local association of information officers and local government units and bringing the families to a government information and frontline services caravan was the best venue they saw, so far.

It’s the best template that we saw, and it helps the families decide which services they need to get and learn how to get it, DSWD’s Social Welfare Officer III Migueliza Felias said.

Using Panagtagbo sa Paglambo alang sa Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps) (4Ps alang sa 4Ps) the DSWD brought in to Pilar Gymnasium family members from cluster towns of Sierra Bullones, Alicia, San Miguel and Pilar for a day-long shopping of government frontline services, which would be helpful in their sustaining the gains of the 4Ps.

As part of its transition support for the exiting households, the program ensures families are informed that government programs and services remain accessible after the 4Ps, the DSWD explained the program.

Bringing the families into one flea market of government services allows them to register for government programs, avail of services like membership in the government’s to freely access government’s primary health care, hospital services, national Identification System, updating of government records, lining up for livelihood trainings and training scholarships, and registration in the e-gov.PH for future online services.

For a long time, we were looking for a good program that we can organize for 4Ps families and when we saw the Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) during the PhilHealth and AUDIO information and service caravan for the Eskaya indigenous people in Lundag in Pilar, we immediately knew it was it, Felias said.

Bannered by online registration for government services via the facilities of the Department of Information Communications and Technology (DICT) which provided internet access, the PhilHealth registered families, updated records, printed Membership Data Records and issued plastic IDs to 4Ps members while the Philippine Statistics Authority sent in a team to register 4Ps members in the National Identification System updated records and handed out members’ access to printable ID cards while waiting for the plastic PhilSys IDS.

This is very important as the failure of families to get the national ID system would stop the DSWD from dispensing the subsidies to families, according to 4Ps member Marcelina Laroza of San Miguel, who availed of PSA and PhilHealth services.

Other government agencies also pitched in with booths for information materials, seedlings and seeds, livestock dewormers, farming technologies, training scholarships, cooperative development advice, social services, sustainable livelihood programs, health and sanitation tips, housing assistance and repair packages and even school supplies provision for 4Ps kids.

When they register, they will be in the priority list for the trainings and scholarships, some with training allowances and starter kits, assures Technical Education and Skills Development Authority team leader Engr. Raul Calamba, who added that they had nearly 200 families enlisting for livelihood training.

Thank you very much, Pilar Department of Education District Supervisor Daisy Orcullo, who claimed that their school participation drastically increased and school drop-outs dwindled.

Out of school youth can avail of the Alternative Learning System (ALS), Orcullo stressed that education is still a tested poverty reduction strategy.

Capitol, through Governor Erico Aumentado’s Educational Development Center also gave out school bags and school supplies for kindergarten and preschool for 3 Pilar barangays.

16 national government agencies, 2 offices from the provincial government of Bohol and LGU Pilar hauled in its services by providing information, referrals and opportunities which the households can avail when they transition out of the program, according to the DSWD.

Daghang salamat Provincial Government of Bohol, the kids chorused during the ceremonial turn-over of school bags and supplies assisted by AUDIO officers and members with Pilar Vice Mayor Eugenio Datahan.

We had to go on a house to house campaign within the vicinity to hand out dewormers, IEC materials and carabao care technologies, said Leniefe Aton, Philippine Carabao Center at the Ubay Stock Farm information officer said.

Daghan kaayong salamat sa higayon nga makakuha sa libreng serbisyo para namong mga kabus, Juliet Caduyac of Abachanan Sierra Bullones said, while holding a native tree seedling and a clear envelop containing PSA, PhilHealth and DSWD documents and information materials from tehs ervcie caravan.

Can we have more of these? We still ahev about 20,000 families exiting the program and we want them to be equipped with the information and programs that they can avail as the government CCT stops for them to fend for themselves, Pelias pleaded. (PIABohol)

THANK YOU BOHOL!. With kids voices in chorus, pre-schoolers and kindergarten from 3 Pilar barangays let out their appreciation to the Provincial Government and Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado during the Panagatagbo sa Paglambo alang sa Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps alang sa 4Ps) information and service in Pilar Bohol, Nov 20. (PIABohol)

NATIONAL ID FOR KIDS. Mothers with kids also found the opportunity to have their kids registered to make sure they have an identity and be eligible for government services and subsidies, as the PSA brought in their Philippine identification system services at the 4Ps alang sa 4Ps in Pilar. (PIAbohol)