Romblon provincial government officials received the copy of Listahanan database. (L-R) Evaluation Officer Cynthia Fetalino, Listahanan Coordinator Ernie Jarabejo, Governor Eduardo Firmalo, Executive Assistant Louie Firmalo, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Vilma Fos, and Listahanan Statistician Jennel Maquiñana.

ODIONGAN- Romblon Governor Eduardo Firmalo received the Listahanan list of identified poor households in this province from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MIMAROPA on Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

Romblon is the first recipient among the five provincial governments regionwide of the said Listahanan database.

Listahanan is a mechanism that identifies who and where the poor are. In Romblon, 20,777 poor households are identified as poor according to the 2015 household assessment.

The data sharing aims to establish a systematic way of sharing data and information of poor households as a basis for selecting potential beneficiaries of various local social protection programs.

 “Now that we have the database from the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction now Listahanan, we have the baseline data that can be used in our programs intended for the poor,” said Governor Firmalo.

The provincial government of Romblon has won the DSWD Gawad Listahanan in 2014 and 2015, an award that is given to local government units recognizing their efforts in the implementation of local social protection programs using Listahanan list of poor.

Listahanan result was used as a reference for the HEART program which focuses on Health, Education, Agriculture, Revenues, Resource Generation, Tourism and Transparency to combat the effects of poverty in the province of Romblon.

“Because of this [Listahanan] data, we are guided for our targets since 2011, and that’s a big accomplishment of the provincial government,” added Firmalo.

The governor also is hopeful for the positive results as the new list is of poor in the province is revealed so that proper interventions will be implemented to uplift their well-being.

Provincial Government of Romblon complied all provisions in the DSWD data sharing guidelines, a mechanism to safeguard the information of poor households. This in compliance with the Data Privacy Act that protects individual personal and personal sensitive information.###

Representatives from national and local government offices, CSOs and students join the Listahanan Antipoverty Symposium to commemorate the UN International Day for Poverty and Hunger Eradication.

BOAC, Marinduque- Hosted by the Marinduque State College (MSC), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MIMAROPA held the 4th Listahanan Antipoverty Symposium yesterday in commemoration of October 17 United Nations (UN) International Day for Eradication of Extreme Hunger and Poverty.

This year’s theme, ‘Answering the Call of October 17 to end poverty: A path toward peaceful and inclusive societies.’

The antipoverty symposium is parallel to the 30th anniversary of the UN’s call to action in the eradication of extreme hunger and poverty along with the Listahanan initiatives in increasing the awareness of the MIMAROPAns on the regional profile of the poor, providing all stakeholders a solid and evidenced-based statistics based on the nationwide household assessment results.

According to Listahanan 2015 database from the 584,562 households assessed and validated regionwide, 221,324 or 37.9 percent are identified poor.

A total of 55,363 poor households were identified in Oriental Mindoro; 39,182 in Occidental Mindoro; 14,051 in Marinduque; 20,777 in Romblon; and 91,951 in Palawan.

“This annual event of the department is one of the actions to show its commitment to the international community in achieving the eradication of hunger and poverty,” said Ernie H. Jarabejo.

This provides an avenue to all stakeholders to discuss various initiatives developed and implemented by their own institutions which are biased to the identified poor in Listahanan particularly the vulnerable, disadvantaged communities, sectors, families and individuals.

One highlight of the event is the presentation of the Ambisyon Natin 2040 by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)- a collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for themselves and for the country for the next 25 years. It describes the kind of life that people want to live, as well as how the country will look like by 2040.

Moreover, considering that the province of Marinduque is the Butterfly Capital of the Philippines, Marinduque State College has presented a case study dubbed as Pera Mula Sa Paruparo: The Pro-poor and Pro-Environment Butterfly Livelihood. The case study focused on providing livelihood and employment to the communities through butterfly farming.

The DSWD has presented its experience and gains in the implementation of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in the grass root communities. SLP aims to improve the socio-economic status of poor families by creating more employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.

For this year, SLP has served 553 individuals in Marinduque for microenterprise development and employment facilitation with Php15 million fund.

The event was participated by various national and local government agencies, civil society organizations and MSC social work students. ###

MALATE, Manila- The Listahanan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MIMAROPA has identified 507,549 poor women living in rural barangays regionwide.

Listahanan is a government mechanism to identify who and where the poor are nationwide. It the basis for beneficiary selection of government social protection programs for the poor.

This is in commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women on October 15 with the theme: ‘Challenges and opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls.’

Results of the DSWD Listahanan 2015 household assessment shows that 5,552 of poor rural women have a disability; 16,486 are considered as household heads, and 8,667 are identified pregnant during the assessment.

“With changing climate, women’s already unequal access to land, water and energy are further impacted. At the same time, existing gender inequalities and discriminations that constrain rural women’s decision-making power and participation in their households and their communities, are exacerbated by climate change and climate disasters”, said in a United Nation report.

According to the DSWD database, there are 91,890 poor rural women regionwide experienced displacement due to natural disasters, human-induced calamities, armed-conflict and rural development.

This database further reveals that about 204,458 poor rural women ages 15 years old and above have no occupation in MIMAROPA while there are 29,758 poor women work as laborers and 17,3825 women are farmers, forestry workers, and fisherfolks.

The DSWD is employing the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (Kalipi)- a federation of women’s organization committed to responding to the needs of organizing women from the grassroots level and genuinely promotes women’s development and empowerment by harnessing their strengths and developing their full potentials.

The Kalahi-CIDSS of the department is also empowering rural women through active community participation in the planning and implementing of sub-projects. ###

MAKATI City- Pinangunahan ng Listahanan ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MIMAROPA ang isang dayalogo na dinaluhan ng ibat ibang representante ng mga  lokal na pamahalaan mula sa mga probinsya ng Mindoro, Marinduque at Romblon ngayong araw dito sa nasabing lungsod.

Layunin ng nasabing dayalogo na hikayatin ang mga kalahok upang pumasok sa isang kasundaan sa pagitan ng DSWD  at ng lokal na pamahalaan para maging kaisa sa pagsugpo ng kahirapan partikular na sa MIMAROPA.

Kabilang sa mga dumalo ang ilang mayor, local social welfare and development officers at local planning and development coordinators.

Ayon kay DSWD Regional Director Wilma D. Naviamos,  gamit ang Listahanan database mas mapapabilis ang pagkilala at pagtukoy sa mga benepisyaryo ng iba’t ibang programang panlipunan ng nasyonal at lokal na pamahalaan

Nakatakda naman ang susunod na dayalogo para sa probinsya ng Palawan sa ikalawang linggo sa susunod na buwan na gaganapin sa lungsod ng Puerto Princesa.

Ang Listahanan ay isang pamamaraan ng pamahalaan para tukuyin at kilalanin kung sinu-sino at nasaan ang mga mahihirap sa bansa. Ayon sa pinakahuling datos nito, umabot sa 207,863 o 36.5 percent ng mga sambahayan sa buong rehiyon ang natukoy na mahihirap.###

MALATE, Manila- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MIMAROPA is in need of 80 youth interns regionwide under the Government Internship Program (GIP).

Twelve youth will be assigned in Oriental Mindoro; 12 in Occidental Mindoro;  eight in Marinduque; 14 in Romblon; 19 in Palawan; and 15 in Malate, Manila.

Interns will serve in the DSWD regional, provincial and municipal offices for 30 days from April 17 to May 29, 2017 and will receive Php 214.00 daily fee or a total of Php6,420.00.

“This is open to single individuals who are 18-25 years old; high school graduates; TESDA or Alternative Learning System certificate holders; members of Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines; youth under Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program family; and youth belonging to family identified poor by Listahanan will also be prioritized,” social worker Amandy Nieves said.

Interested youth may submit these requirements: application letter, certificate of indigency, latest school registration; and copy of identification card of applicants and their parents/guardians, to the nearest DSWD or MIMAROPA SWAD offices and/or send through email at amandy_nieves@yahoo.com.

Deadline for submission will be on April 10, 2017.

GIP is one of the components of the Kabataan 2000 program which provides opportunity for both out-of-school and in-school youths a hands-on experience of working in various government agencies. It enables them to learn life skills in the workplace while earning money to help them meet their school needs.###

SPSI Caravan for Abra de Ilog, Mamburao, Paluan, Sta. Cruz cluster held in Occidental Mindoro Provincial Capitol.

MAMBURAO, OcciMin- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MIMAROPA , in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and  the provincial and local government units of Occidental Mindoro conducted three clusters of Social Protection Support Initiative (SPSI) caravan in the towns of Mamburao on February 15; San Jose on February 18; and Lubang on February 28, 2017.

SPSI is a convergence project of the  DSWD, DOH, and PhilHealth aims to help Listahanan-identified poor particularly the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries attain an improved level of well-being and their economic status.

The caravan activities  include motorcade, project orientation and participating agencies set-up booths catering  basic services.

A total of 805 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, local government officials, local health officers and local social welfare officers provincewide attended the said caravan.

SPSI Sub-projects

 The DSWD’s Sustaining Interventions in Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG) enhances the case management capacity of local social welfare and development offices through an enhanced social case management system using the information and communication technology. This Electronic Social Case Management System (e-SCMS) features data analysis capabilities, intervention planning and monitoring application, a platform for collaboration and supervision, and built-in referral system to facilitate improved delivery of coordinated social services at the local level.

Also, the DOH implements Watching Over Mothers and babies or WOMB projects that provides access and utilizes the child and nutrition services at the local level. WOMB features data management system to aid community health teams and Rural Health Units in enrolling expectant mothers and neonates.  Likewise it enhances the referral mechanism within the local health service delivery system by improving the linkage of local health units or any Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care facility to the next level care facility.

And the Sigurado at Garantisadong Insurance Pangkalusugan (SAGIP) PhilHealth anchored with the governments Universal Health Care. SAGIP aims to proactively register all Filipinos in the health care system, remind members to regularly pay their premium contribution, refer the delinquent payees to appropriate sponsorship, and measure the performance of attaining universal health insurance coverage overtime.

Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries join the motorcade kicking off the SPSI caravan.

“Through the coordinated implementation of SIPAG, WOMB and SIPAG through the SPSI, the country will now have a better way of ensuring that the poor and vulnerable are provided improved access to basic social protection services and the government’s social service delivery systems are at par with global standards,” said Julieta Flores SIPAG Regional Coordinator.

Prior the caravan, SIPAG also conducted case conferences attended by the partner agencies and local social welfare officers wherein 11 cases of partner-beneficiaries presented and given appropriate interventions.

SPSI project commenced its first year of pilot implementation in the six  municipalities Oriental Mindoro  province of Oriental Mindoro in 2011. To date, SPSI covers the whole Mindoro provinces. ###

DSWD partner beneficiaries attend the inauguration of the business center in 2016.

The usual challenge faced by community organizations is sustainability. “Ningas-kogon” attitude is an innate nature of many Filipinos. Many organizations or even programs and projects left unfinished because the aspect of sustainability is forgotten. Huge government resources were put to waste because of so many factors. It could be the lack of commitment, the lack of passion to push certain endeavor or the lack of long –term vision.

This is the reality that need to be addressed not only by government but by individuals.

But, the sad stories of community undertakings has also a positive part. There are still individuals and even government agencies who believe that something will happen if the leaders and the people are willing to surrender certain things or even time in exchange of something worthwhile and for the interest of many.

One inspiring story of a successful community initiative is the establishment of a business center in the town of Taytay, Palawan. The process towards the full realization of the project started in 2014 when series of community meetings and consultations were made. Community consultation is a fundamental requirement before any community project or undertaking kicks off.

Doing so was not easy for the community workers because there should be a paradigm shift to ensure the success of the proposed project. In this case, they need to open the mind of the beneficiaries that instead of doing operating the business individually, it has to operate and run by the association as one.

With the supervision of  the Department of Social Welfare and Development under its Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations with the support of the local government unit of Taytay and the Taytay Palawan Sustainable Livelihood Program Federation, Inc., the business center successfully opened in 2016 and operates providing more opportunities to community particularly the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The DSWD-SLPA Business Center is a growing business enterprise incorporating different business concepts in one place.

The SLP business center is a perfect avenue to display and promote Palawan products to locals and tourists.

It is located strategically along national highway at the junction of Taytay town. The business center houses the restaurant, grocery store, boutique, souvenirs shops and entertainment place. It is now being managed by trained staff who also form part of the management.

Since this is a community-owned enterprise with government on the side, the members are putting too much premium on the sustainability of the project by actively participating in the operation of the center. It is being ran by 39 beneficiaries who are considered as ‘ wealth generators’ for other beneficiaries of the program.

The project aims to improve the socio-economic condition of members of the SLPAs through group enterprise. The skill to run the business was acquired through the assistance of the LGU of Taytay, the Department of Trade and Industry and the help in various ways of the Philippine Marines.

Aside from economic benefits of the project, the members are able to deepen their understanding on the value of collective action which will lead to strengthening community ties and development. Likewise, the strengthened partnership with external partners are steadfast foundation of the project.

The approach in community empowerment of DSWD is proven effective to develop the sense of ownership among community members. Through this, the members are gripping tight not to let go of their dreams.

The journey towards economic independence of DSWD SLP members may take a longer time, but the good news is, the government is always on the side to provide guidance to the community when passion is weakening and the direction sometimes is taking a swerving path.

Today, the business center still operates successful and is growing by adding more business activities in the center thus provides bigger income opportunity to its beneficiaries. ### (Joy Tabuada)

Source: Palawan News 

Game na game na sumabak ang mga kalahok ng skill training sa isang photo op.

Inilunsad ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  MIMAROPA sa ilalim ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program o 4Ps ang dalawang skills training sa bayan ng Rizal, Palawan.

Unang isinagawa ang ‘Skills Training on Banana and Pineapple Intercropping’ noong Enero 24 at 25 sa Barangay Culasian na dinaluhan ng 102 beneficiaries ng Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Indigenous People in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantage Area (MCCT-IP in GIDA) na nagmula sa nasabing lugar, gayundin sa Barangay Candawaga. Ito’y sinundan ng ‘Skills Training on Corn Production’ nitong Enero 26 at 27 sa Barangay Punta Baja na dinaluhan naman ng 74 benefeciaries ng naturang barangay.