Roi Anthoni B.
Lomotan
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 23 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD-7) recenbtly conducted a “Voice of the People” forum
and workshop to 100 Parent Leaders (PLs) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in Negros Oriental.
The forum aims to provide an avenue where PLs and DSWD-7 Officers
can discuss some issues and concerns related to the implementation of 4Ps in
their area and the same time strengthen the commitment of between DSWD and
partner beneficiaries for the continued success of the program.
“What we want to know the concerns on 4Ps coming from them,”
4Ps Negros Oriental Provincial Link Asela Bella Tse said. Tse supervised the
forum.
The participants that came from the Metro Dumaguete cluster, Bais
City and municipality of Pamplona. Metro Dumaguete is composed of Dumaguete
City and the towns of Sibulan, San Jose, Amlan, Bacong, Valencia, Zamboanguita,
Dauin and Bacong.
They were divided into groups with one or two DSWD staff
facilitating the forum. Participants were instructed to write some issues and
problems they encounter on the implementation of 4Ps after which each group
presented the outputs in a plenary session.
Some top issues on 4Ps center on non-attendance of some
parent-beneficiaries of the program to family development sessions; delays
in the payout of cash grants; misuse of cash grants and non-compliance to
other conditions set by the program.
On the issue of misuse of cash grants, Tse said some beneficiaries
misuse the funds because of health problems. She explained beneficiaries
would borrow money from a person and use to buy medicines or pay medical
consultations. They would later pay their lender once they receive their cash
grants.
Tse also noted there are still few cases where 4Ps beneficiaries
misuse the grants and use it for gambling or to support their vices. But Tse
said that generally this issue is already being resolved.
DSWD officers will tackle these issues and look for solutions for
these concerns along with the help and commitment from the PLs.
Tse disclosed that this forum is part of empowering PLs and she
hopes what they learned here will be applied in their respective localities.
As of March 2015, there are 259, 234 active household
beneficiaries of the program in Central Visayas.
Cebu has the highest number of beneficiaries with 126, 244
followed by Negros Oriental with 70, 084, Bohol with 58, 904 and Siquijor with
4,002 beneficiaries. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
VP Binay visits NegOr
for speaking engagements, meetings
·
Roi Anthoni B.
Lomotan
NEGROS ORIENTAL, May 23 (PIA) – Vice President Jejomar Binay
visits Negros Oriental on May 22-23 for speaking engagements and meetings with
local officials and residents of the province.
According to Adan Ines, official from media affairs department of
the Office of the Vice President, Binay is scheduled to meet with local
leaders and residents of Dumaguete City at 8:30 am today at the city public
market.
The Vice President will also lead the turnover of wheelchairs to
senior citizens of Dumaguete City.
Binay will also meet with municipal officials and residents of
Valencia and Bacong towns at 12 noon and 1:45 in the afternoon, respectively.
The venue for these meetings will be at the municipal public market of each
town.
On the other hand, the Vice President yesterday led the opening of
Housing and Land Use and Regulatory Board (HLURB) – Dumaguete City Liaison Desk
at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)-Dumaguete City branch
building.
Aside from this, Binay also went to the 2nd general assembly of
the of Southeastern Coast Homeowners Association Triad (Negros Oriental, Bohol
and Siquijor) at a local hotel in Dumaguete City where he spoke to hundreds of
homeowner association presidents.
Binay informed them on the status of the government’s housing
projects for informal settlers in the province.
He also commended the organizers for conducting assemblies like
these to strengthen the relationship between presidents and members of every
homeowners association towards a peaceful community.
Binay also graced the 28th Biennial General Assembly of the Alpha
Phi Omega on May 22. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)