A Convergence Information Caravan was conducted by the DSWD Region IV-MiMaRoPa last November 14, 2013 at the Parang Resort, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

The Information Caravan was held to publicize the Tatsulo, the strategic convergence of the Department’s three core programs, among the marginalized sector, specifically the Indigenous Peoples. Some 95 Mangyans from Calapan, Baco, and Naujan, participated in the activity. These Mangyans are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya. Several key staff from the Regional Office and the IHelp, a CSO partner of Pantawid Pamilya, were also present in the half-day activity.

Apart from the usual orientation on the DSWD Convergence Strategy, representatives from the offices of PhilHealth, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and the National Statistics Office were also invited to talk about the various programs and services that the IPs can avail.

For the part of the National Statistics Office, the representative discussed the process of registration for birth, marriage and death. He said that these are important to be filed so that they will have a record at their local Civil Registry. Several IPs raised their concern on the amount to be paid for the processing of documents, to which the representative said that they can secure of Certificate of Indigency from the DSWD that will certify that they have no means of paying the necessary fees.

On the other hand, the representative from PhilHealth conferred on the types of benefits that IPs can avail, specifically if they have an illness. He emphasized that they can avail the services anytime since they are Philhealth members and similarly encouraged them to maximize the use of benefits.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Of Staff Rowena Sanz, discussed the ways of how people can prevent possible danger brought about by natural calamities. She said that their office is maximizing activities like the Information Caravan to talk to more people and share knowledge on various disaster preparedness and mitigation measures. She added that they will organize a similar activity to orient the people further on the subject of disaster preparedness.

An Open Forum was held to tackle issues and concerns of the participants. ###