Students of Occidental Mindoro State College participate the Listahanan Roadshow.

SAN JOSE-  The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MIMAROPA completed the Listahanan provincial roadshow in Occidental Mindoro.

Joined by students and local government employees and officials, the last stop of roadshows were conducted in Occidental Mindoro State College- Labangan Campus on November 20-21; San Jose Municipal Hall on November 22; and Occidental Mindoro Provincial Capitol in Mamburao town on November 23-24, 2017.

Earlier this year, roadshows were held in Marinduque, Palawan, and Oriental Mindoro provinces. In 2016, the first roadshow was held in Romblon.

“These roadshows aim to continue to advocate the regional profile of the poor to academe, local government units and the general public,” told Listahanan MIMAROPA Coordinator Ernie H. Jarabejo.

Listahanan is the government mechanism of identifying who and where the poor are nationwide. This system provides a database of poor families to social protection stakeholders which can be used as the basis for selecting potential beneficiaries of pro-poor programs and services.

In Occidental Mindoro out of 91,707 total households assessed and validated, 39, 182 or 47% are identified poor.

On the other hand, the provincial government of Occidental Mindoro has expressed the interest to enter into an agreement with DSWD to use the Listahanan data in planning and implementing local social protection programs.###

DSWD MIMAROPA conducts validation of 100-year-old senior citizens who will qualify the centenarian gift.

MALATE, Manila- Thirty-six centenarians in MIMAROPA region already received Php100, 000.00 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) since April 2017.

DSWD record shows that four centenarians have received in Occidental Mindoro; 14 in Oriental Mindoro; six in Marinduque; three in Romblon; and nine in Palawan.

Under Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Acts of 2016, all Filipinos who live to 100 years, otherwise known as a centenarian, will receive a Letter of Felicitation from the President and a centenarian gift of P100,000 whether living in the Philippines or not.

To date, the Department has released a total of Php3.6 million.

“We are still in the validation process for another  31 centenarians regionwide to qualify for the said cash gift,” said Maricel dela Vega, senior citizen focal person.

Centenarians will also receive a plaque of recognition and a cash incentive from their respective cities or municipal governments, to be decided by their local government unit.

According to Listahanan– government’s mechanism to identify the poor, there are 22 senior citizens who have turned 100 years old this year, belonging to poor households.###

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. ###

Staff during the procurement workshop.

MANILA CITY- To promote good governance, transparency, accountability, equity, efficiency, and economy in all government procurement processes, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  MiMaRoPa conducted a one-day orientation-workshop on Republic Act 9184 known as the Government Procurement Act to staff as front liners and receivers of procurement transactions.

“The orientation-workshop aims to equip the staff of the basic knowledge about government procurement to help improve the turn-around time of all procurement transactions,” said Department Property and Supply Officer Imee Villanueva.

The orientation which was held in Bayview Hotel last July 29, Friday was attended by 62 staff both region and province-based staff  in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

This also complies the mandates of RA 9184 to continuously paves way for the improvement of the procurement process by enabling the staff to be aware and involved in the process.

“As a support staff, this procurement orientation helps to effectively perform my job for a quality and as scheduled delivery of  items or services,” said Listahanan staff Norman Sarmiento.

Similar orientation-workshop will be an annual activity as part of the skills enhancement of the Department.###

It had a scorching heat that day. Arthur, 33, and Jennelyn, 32, were inside the municipal office of Pantawid Pamilya, silently waiting. Reluctant at first, the couple showed little of their smiles. But as asked gently and pushed deeper, the goodness of their hearts emanate.

Little by little the Masalansan family from Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro recounted the changes in their lives since they became part of Pantawid Pamilya in 2008.

Family struggles

Living in a mountain is difficult. The Masalansan family attests to that. Relying on ‘kaingin’, a method of clearing land by slashing and burning bushes for cultivation, is not enough to earn for your family. Also, not owning lands to tend as farmers, Arthur and Jennelyn have to constantly rent to plant crops and with that alone diminishes the earnings they get to pay the landlords.

Before becoming part of Pantawid Pamilya, the family lived in walls sewn in sacks of rice or “tagpi-tagping bahay” as what they call it, making it more difficult for everyone especially during rainy season. They also do not have water source in their own home. They have to walk for almost 500 meters to get to their neighbor with a water pump. It was like that for the family for many years until aid came.

When aid came

The group where the Masalansan belongs is the Mangyan-Alangan. They resisted the assessment of the enumerators in 2008 since they have long history of protecting their domain from prospective mine conglomerates. Arthur recalls that Jennelyn together with the ‘Kuy-ays’ or elders from the tribe stopped the DSWD staff before and demanded to show proof that it is a trusted program in fear of letting mining enter their area.

True to their intentions, the program proved to help the people in need in their area and the Masalansan being included. The cash grant that they receive provided support to the family. It did not fully answer to their overall financial needs but it can afford the needs of the children. The positive impact it brought to them that even Arthur smiles when remembering it is that they were able to give additional food or allowance to their children when they now go to school.

He further said that sometimes their children would be just satisfied looking at the food stalls and they weren’t able to eat merienda like ‘banana cue’. But now, they are able to give at least 20 pesos. Arthur’s faced lit up and considered it a big deal for them. Sometimes, since they can now provide rice for their children, their allowance is allotted to buying viand at school.

When they have enough, the family is able to save. But they ensure that they have enough for their children. Jennylyn shares that they now are also able to buy multivitamins for the kids.

Livelihood to start anew

It not only the cash grants that the family is grateful for. It is also because of Pantawid Pamilya that the family was able to receive the Self-Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran (SEA-K) or what is now called the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). SEA-K aims to enhance the socio-economic skills of poor families through the organization of community-based associations for entrepreneurial development.

The prioritized beneficiaries of the then SEA-K are the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. This is to assist the upliftment in the level of well-being of the beneficiaries from survival to self-sufficiency. The Masalansan was one of the families who were granted a capital.

They received a capital of 7,000 pesos and they were fortunate that Arthur’s brother-in-law offered his land to till for free. Arthur could not be more than grateful and thought that luck was really on their side. They do not have to pay for the rent of the land so when the harvest came, they got the earnings in whole.

He bought seeds of corn for 5,000 pesos and another 2,000 pesos for the fertilizers. But the capital was not enough. “Nagtrabaho pa po ako sa labas, yung arawan po kaya nakaipon pa po ako ng 1,000 at yun po ang binili ko po ulit ng abono,” narrated Arthur.

The Masalansans received the earnings of their harvest in full. They earned at around 30,000 pesos. They saved the 20,000 pesos and used it to repair their house. They are able to cement the half of their walls even just a small portion. “Kahit maliit lang, hindi na tulad ng dati na ang bubong namin ay kugon. Mahirap po kasi ‘pag umuulan,” told Arthur. For them, it has brought them a big change and motivated them to work more and better themselves.

The remaining 10,000 pesos from their first harvest were allotted for buying rice crop since it is a different planting season. Since they cannot use his brother-in-law’s land, the couple found another land they could rent. The portion was given to the land’s rent while the remaining 8,000 were allotted for the seeds and fertilizers.

While the family is doing this, they are still doing ‘kaingin’ to sustain the expenses of the family. “Sa amin naman po kasi, makapagbenta ka ng saging, may pambili ka na ng asin. Pag may talbos ka, may ulam kana,” added Nanay Jenelyn.

The hard work of Jennelyn and Arthur paid off. They were able to earn big and saved up 10,000 from that earning to fix their house again. “Hindi po kami magkakaroon ng ganung bahay kung hindi po dahil sa programa ng DSWD,” uttered Jennelyn. They now have a water pump inside their house and are planning to build a proper toilet.

A stable home is what every family wants and the Masalansans had it. It is not grand but it serves its purpose of keeping a loving family sheltered and safe.

Looking things differently

The couple smile together with their youngest and newborn child.

The Department did not only change the family in terms of financial capability but more importantly with their way of looking at life. With the help of the Family Development Sessions which Arthur and Jennelyn attend together, the couple changed their attitude towards things particularly in the health aspect for the children.

“Noong wala pang pantawid, hindi po namin naiisip na kailangan manganak sa hospital. Takot po kami, takot. Pero ngayon hindi na,” said Arthur. He added that it is the culture of their parents to give birth in their own homes.

“Pero ngayon, ang naiisip po namin, pag manganganak ay dapat sa ospital. Kung safe man sa bahay, mas safe dito sa clinic,” agreed by Arthur.

Jennelyn tells that that they are reminded during FDS that should give birth to a hospital or a clinic that is why when they had their recent sixth child, “Kahit gabi po, humanap po kami ng sasakyan para lang makarating sa clinic at hindi tulad noon na sa bahay lang,” recounted Arthur.

The lessons in those sessions change their family’s lifestyle. “Yung pagbabakuna, noong wala po yung Pantawid, takot po kami. Syempre karayom po yun. Yung magulang takot, yung bata takot din,” Arthur remembers fondly.

“Dati po hindi malinis yung mga anak namin pati na rin po kaming mga magulang dahil likas po sa amin yung di po talaga kami naliligo araw-araw. Hindi nga rin po kami naghuhugas ng kamay pag kakain,” added Jennelyn. It is because of Pantawid Pamilya that the family learned to care for their hygiene and cleanliness of their surroundings.

The couple also imbibed learning the rights of children. “Dun sa karapatan ng bata, wala kaming alam dun. Pag nagagalit kami, ang alam naming, pwede naming paluin. Pero ngayon, hindi na. Alam na naming pati ng obligasyon ng mga magulang,” said Arthur.

Even their relationship as a couple was change positively because of attending the FDS. Arthur admitted that he used to drink a lot. Whenever he sees his friends, he will buy alcohol instead of food for the family.

Arthur recalled that he was suddenly awaken. “Hindi na po ako nag-iinom. Nag-isip po talaga akong mabuti. Naisip ko, nahihirapan kami. Walang pambili ng bigas, bakit ganun? Ah kasi, binibili ko ng alak at sigarilyo,” told Arthur.

A bright future

“Ang pangarap ko po talaga ay makatapos ng pag-aaral ang aking mga anak. Yung magkaroon sila ng magandang buhay. Sapat na po sakin yun,” said Jennelyn.

Added Arthur, “Kami ay mahirap lamang. Isa pa, katutubo kami. Kailangan ipakita namin sa karamihan hindi lang sa katutubo, kailangan maipakita namin sa lipunan na kahit katutubo ay kaya naming mapaaral ang aming mga anak. Kaya kahit sa anong paraan ay pagsisikapan naming mapag-aral ang aming mga anak.”

The couple doesn’t want their children to experience the life they had all throughout. They never thought that they can have a good life. And it felt good.

“Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat dahil noong mula po na nagkaroon kami ng Pantawid, kahit po kami ay naghihirap na ay naitataguyod namin ng maayos ang aming mga anak. Kung noon, yung kakulangan po na hindi namin naibibigay sa aming mga anak ay ngayon po kahit papaano ay naibibigay na po naming,” said Jennelyn.

“Kami ay binago ng programa ng DSWD. Nagkaroon kami ng bagong pundasyon. Kumbaga sa bahay, matatag na pundasyon na hindi kayang gibain kahit anong mangyari. Sana marami pang pamilya ang matulungan at hindi lang kami,” ended Arthur.

True to its goal, the program continuous to cover more poor families since its implementation in 2008. More than 4.4 million households are now served by the program nationwide hoping to provide a new foundation for better lives just like what the Masalansan family experienced. ###

She talks fast. A petite girl wearing a shirt and jeans emerged from the doors of the office looking fresh despite the scorching heat from the sun on a late morning and greeted everyone with a timid smile.

Lyka Jane Ruiz, 21, is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education last April 2016. Fourth among 10 siblings, Lyka says that their family get by with what they have.

From the island barangay of Bangkal in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, her father, Tatay Roy, works by ferrying people from their island to the proper of the municipality. Lyka’s mother, Nanay Nancy, helps their father in selling whatever product is in season like uling, sinegwelas, etc. Her mother is also a barangay councilor.

Lyka grew up with reluctant parents. She remembers that since elementary, she and most of her siblings were honor students and their parents were not so enthusiastic going up the stage during awardings. Lyka attributed this attitude to the thought that perhaps because they just lived in an island. “Pero super thankful po ako kasi kahit hindi kami ganun kasayang pamilya, buo kami, kumpleto at nandyan pa rin po ang pamilya ko. Hindi nila ako pinapabayaan, sumusuporta, gumagabay sila sa amin at nararamdaman ko na po yung pagbabago sa ugali nila. Ngayon nakapagtapos na kami, parang proud na sila,” said Lyka.

The Ruiz family became part of the Pantawid Pamilya program in 2013. It helped the family in its expenses as well as their family relationship. The change in the outlook in life can be attributed to the constant attendance of the couple in Family Development Sessions. Discussions on family relationships were tackled and talked among community members with the help of the staff.

It was how the people in their island look at things that need to be changed. Lyka also recalls that their neighbors used to say negative things to them like they might just get pregnant or will marry at an early age since most of them are girls. But Lyka did not let these negativities put her down.

Instead, she proved not only to the people around them but also to herself that she can make her way and achieve her dreams. She used this as a determination to push further and study hard. “Na-motivate ako na i-continue po yung pag-aaral ko. Everytime na may bagsak ako sa exam ko, napu-push po akong mag-aral, yun po yung pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin,” recalled Lyka.

And she did. She graduated with honor in college. But to graduate in college with honor is not an easy task. With “sipag, tiyaga at detreminasyon” when asked of what she has why she graduated with honor, Lyka told these three things.

Not an easy road

After high school, Lyka wasn’t able to pursue college right away. She stopped for a year. At that time, her second eldest sister is studying in college while the next is taking midwifery. Her father could not provide for them at the same time.

Instead of staying at home when she stopped, Lyka used her time to help and earn at the same time. She worked as a part-time preschool teacher in Bangkal Elementary School. She was able to receive Php1,500/month for the four months that she worked there.

Before the start of her school year as freshman in college, after working as part-time preschool teacher, she went to the proper of San Jose and worked as a waitress in an eatery. She worked at night for four months. But since she can’t balance her work and studies, she stopped working. Lyka’s tuition fee during her first year was free where she received a scholarship from the local government. However, during her second year, her father paid the tuition in full.

She was in sophomore year when they became part of Pantawid Pamilya. It assisted them greatly in terms of her younger siblings’ needs in school. Lyka narrated that her father is strict in their expenses. There were times that she becomes stressed just thinking where to get the money for her school expenses. Fortunately, another blessing came to them.

An answered prayer

Lyka was a junior when she became a beneficiary of the Students’ Grant-In-Aid for Poverty Alleviation Program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allotted to the children of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.

“Noong una po talaga, hindi ako makapaniwala kasi libre tuition tapos may allowance pa. Parang di po ako makapaniwala na may ganito palang programa sa gobyerno pero noong natanggap ko na po, ayun naniwala na po ako. Totoo pala,” told Lyka when she received the grant.

Beneficiaries of the now Expanded Students’ Grant-In-Aid for Poverty Alleviation Program (ESGPPA) will receive a maximum of Php60,000 for tuition fee, textbooks/learning materials and allowance (transportation, board and lodging and other school supplies).

Lyka said, “Super blessed po talaga yung mga scholar ng SGPPA. Kasi sa laki po niyan, pag sinayang po nila, sila rin po magiging kawawa noon.” She never thought that they will be part of another government program after becoming a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary.

Now that she graduated, even their neighbors in their island also believe and are now also hoping that their children can be part of the program. “Hindi mawawala yung pasasalamat at pagtanaw ng utang na loob kasi po kami po yung nabigyan ng scholarship. Super thankful, super blessed, thank you po kay God binigay niya po saken yung blessing na ganito,” narrated Lyka.

She is currently reviewing for the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET). She hopes she will be able to find a job soon to be able to give back to her parents and help in house expenses.

She hopes that the young ones today will believe in the seemingly impossible things that the world has to offer. She hopes they will believe that good things will happen to them. “Huwag pong susuko. Kahit everytime po na madadapa, push lang ng push. Kasi kahit isipin mong gusto mong mag-give up wala naman pong mangyayari. Yung ipagpatuloy lang po yung pangarap,” ended Lyka. Just like what she did when she turned negativity to success. ###

Core shelter beneficiaries raise their land titles received from the Department of Agrarian Reform.

SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro-   With the convergence efforts of different government agencies, families who were devastated from Typhoon Jolina in 2009 received their new housing units under the DSWD’s modified Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) last July 31, 2015.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MiMaRoPa Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Floreceli Gunio and Sablayan Mayor Eduardo Gadiano led the turn-over of 58 housing units in Sitio Yapang, Barangay Batong-buhay and 339 units in Sitio Cigaras, Barangay Ilvita during the inauguration ceremony in the municipality.

Funding for the construction of the said houses was provided by the DSWD amounting to Php28 million pesos with Php12 million pesos counterpart from the local government unit with 600sqm lot granted to each family by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The core shelter units worth Php70,000 each.

CSAP site in Barangay Ilvita, Sablayan is now occupied by 339 families.

Houses were built by beneficiaries’ own hands. “Ginagawa namin ang mga bahay namin, sumasahod pa kami dahil sa cash for work [program] ng DSWD,” said Ilvita Barangay Captain Noel Yasay.

Building of core shelters also serves as training ground for beneficiaries under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) course of masonry and carpentry, on which whoever passed the assessment get National Certificate II affirming their skills competency. Furthermore, the Philippine Army has volunteered in the construction.

On the other hand, the Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) and National Electrification Administration (NEA) have allocated one-million peso-fund for the electrification of the two housing sites thru their Sitio Electrification Program. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) also established the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) project with a mission to provide safe and sufficient water for the beneficiaries.

“Dito nakita namin ang pagkakaisa ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno para mabuo ang isang komunidad,” said beneficiary Jovita Espinosa. “At itong pangrap namin na magandang bahay, na natupad na, ay aming aalagaan at lalo pang pagagandahin,” she continued.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shared Php400,000 to beneficiaries in Ilvita for employment and livelihood program under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers or TUPAD while seedlings are also given for farming by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has released Php2, 500,000 for the construction of Barangay Health Stations.

CSAP provides disaster resistant shelter units to families displaced by natural calamities that are unable to restore damaged houses. This is also intended to other families who are at high risk and vulnerable areas that need to be relocated.

DSWD reminds recipients of core houses not to sell nor rent it out within 15 years.###

Carrying a child in one arm, a mother looks outside her house. She smiles as she sees a group of people approaches and says, “Magandang umaga po. Tuloy po kayo.” She lets the people take a peek of her newly-built house.

Ronalyn Ebron, 34 years old is one of the beneficiaries of the Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of the municipality of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

Ronalyn Ebron welcomes her visitors with a smile to their newly-built home.

Ronalyn invited the DSWD staff inside her roughly decorated house. She moved to her home last January 2015.  She, together with her five children and husband, used to live in Zone 4, a sitio of Barangay Ilvita, one of the areas often affected by the typhoons and flooded since they are near the river. In 2009, the said sitio received the brunt of Typhoon Jolina that damaged and destroyed properties and houses.

The households living in Zone 4 are considered “at risk” for a long time and therefore pushed the local government to formulate plans for the transfer of the residents to a safer place. After systematic planning in 2013, the local government resorted to the CSAP initiated by the DSWD.

With the groundbreaking ceremony attended by Sec. Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman last 2014, the LGU of Sablayan started its “Pangarap na Pamayanan” project with 397 houses for the residents of “at risk” families in barangays Ilvita and Lagnas, another area also affected by typhoons and flood.

Of the total number of houses provided, 112 in Brgy. Ilvita and eight in Brgy. Lagnas are awarded to Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries like Ronalyn. As a stay-at-home mother with a delivery-man husband, Ronalyn’s family strives to do better in life. “Nagpapasalamt po kami kasi nabigyan po kami ng bahay at safe po kami dito,” utters Ronalyn. They are grateful that a sturdy house and spacious lot is provided to them and they can call it their own.  CSAP is one of the contributing factors in the Department’s goal of uplifting the well-being of the partner-beneficiaries.

Lina Basit shows her glee as she pose in front of her new and own home.

Lina Agmat Basit, 52 years old, is also a Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiary. With tears, she says, “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa ating pamahalaan kasi nabiyayaan kami ng sarili naming bahay na hindi namin naisip na magkakaroon kami.” She recalled that she was excited when she heard they will receive a house from CSAP that she immediately moved to it when it was ready for occupancy.

Lina also stays at home while her husband is a seasonal farmer and construction worker. For others, they don’t have much but for them, what they have is more than enough to be grateful for – their own and happy home.

With convergence from the various programs of the Department as well as the willingness of the local government to provide its best care to its constituents, change in the lives of the poor people is never too far. ###