Juju M. Empuerto
CEBU City, August 14 (PIA) --The Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here celebrated its first
Panaghiusa Festival from August 12 to 13 at SM City Cebu.
The festival aimed to intensify the advocacy of its various
programs and services for the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged using the
covergence strategy, said DSWD-7 Assistant Regional Director for
Operation Shalaine Marie Lucero.
Through the convergence strategy, DSWD has harmonized the
implementation of its core programs, namely the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino
Program, Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Kapit-Bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Coordinated Social Services
(Kalahi-CIDDS), Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), and Social Pension for
Indigent Senior Citizens.
The first day of the event featured a mass at the regional office
and followed by a parade to SM City, Cebu.
After the parade, a Trade Exhibit by SLP beneficiaries, Photo
Gallery and Info Booth from various DSWD-7 programs and services was opened for
the general public at SM City-Cebu Trade Hall.
“Kaya ko ang Pagbabago” presentations from various schools in Metro
Cebu showcasing DSWD’s programs and services through dance, act and song
performances and a quiz bee were showcased.
DSWD Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat delivered her State of
Region Address (SORA) on August 13 where she cited the challenges the
department faced for the last two years.
“The past two years were challenging for us with the
occurence of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Bohol and typhoons Yolanda,
Ruby and Seniang, and the sea mishaps," said Jabagat.
In her speech, she said the compliance rates of Pantawid Pamilya
beneficiaries to the requirements in education and health went up.
For education, compliance rate increased from 96.5% in
2012 to 98.9% in the first half of this year.
More than 20,000 Pantawid Pamily students graduated in March this
year, of which 130 finished as valedictorians and 77 were
salutatorians.
Compliance rate for health requirements also went up from 96.4% in
2012 to 97.9% in the first half of this year.
Jabagat's SORA was the second that she has presented, the first of
which was done in 2013.
The event was also highlighted by the awarding of the winners of
this year's Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya regional search.
The Torrentira family from Sagbayan, Bohol was this year's grand
prize awardee and will represent Region 7 in the national
search. (rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu)
- See
more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1071439454319/dswd-7-holds-first-panaghiusa-festival#sthash.9nyx34gk.dpuf