DSWD_2nd issue-x

DSWD - CAR
WHAT’S
INSIDE
4
8
10
16
Family builds ‘dream home’,
finds peace of mind
Maria’s journey to aging
gracefully and productively
DSWD validates poor
households in Cordillera
Administrative Region
Indigent families open
“mini grocery” in Apayao
Another Jonah Story
Family beyond sexuality
Day Care Centers: For the
Love of Children
The Social Focus is the Official Publication
of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development - Cordillera Administrative
Region published by the Social Marketing
Unit - Office of the Regional Director.
EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS
JANET P. ARMAS
OIC-Regional Director
ENGR. ENRIQUE H. GASCON JR.
OIC-Assistant Regional Director (Administration)
MARY GRAIL B. DONG-AS
OIC-Assistant Regional Director (Operations)
THE SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT
NERIZZA FAYE G. VILLANUEVA
Regional Information Officer
PHYLEIN MARIA ROSETTE CALLANGAN
Pantawid Information Officer
JASMIN P. KIASO
Kalahi-CIDSS Social Marketing Officer
6
9
12
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
Message
DIRECTOR’S
The Social Focus is one among the various
advocacy materials of DSWD CAR which
publishes the success stories of our beneficiaries.
It plays a crucial role in informing the public that- behind the numbers,
are faces. Real stories of people who chose to fight poverty and with
determination made the big steps towards improving their quality of life.
The second quarter of 2016 tested our resilience and our willpower. The
onslaught of Super Typhoon Lawin the region meant more work hours and
less time with the family, however, the response from our staff, volunteers and
other agencies is overwhelmingly heartwarming. One particular display of
camaraderie was the human chain done in Mr. Province. Due to a collapsed
bridge, the people created a human chain across the river to move the goods
from one side to the other. This is Cordillera’s way of helping each other.
2016 also made us realize how important it is, for one to truly realize the
value of understanding the core of public service, that more than a profession,
it is a way of life. We live public service in hours spent after 5pm and on
weekends and we breathe public service when we are called to render duty.
As we move towards another year of service, it is my hope that we will
be able to continue to work beyond our term of reference and maximizing
resource that would result to more success stories from our partner
beneficiaries.
JANET P. ARMAS
Director III
About the
MARK ERIK KING GUANZON
and communities of the Cordillera
2 The Social Focus
Listahan Information Officer
Cover
The Cover page embodies the
Department’s commitment for
“Maagap at Mapagkalingang
Serbisyo” to the Filipino people
through the various social welfare programs and services. The heart
symbolizes the compassionate service provided by DSWD Field Office
Cordillera Administrative Region to the disadvantaged individuals, families,

DSWD - CAR
DSWD brings services closer to
beneficiaries through ‘Off-Site Serbisyo’
The Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) has
recently released Memorandum
Circular (MC) 11, Series of 2016
which aims to bring its services closer to
the Department’s clients and beneficiaries.
MC 11, S. 2016 entitled “DSWD
Off-Site Serbisyo: Special Guidelines on
Off-Site Release or Provision of Services
to Beneficiaries of DSWD Protective
Services Program (PSP)” reiterates
the dedication of the Department in
providing accessibility to and convenience
for beneficiaries to the protective services
of the Department which includes the
Expanded Assistance to Individuals in
Crisis Situation (E-AICS).
“Through our Off-Site Serbisyo,
individuals in crisis situation who are
qualified to avail of our assistance need
not to travel to the Regional Office. The
assistance will not be released outside
DSWD offices or premises but in areas
like barangay halls, Child Development
or Day Care Centers, and multi-purpose
halls taking into consideration the safety
and well-being of the beneficiaries and
DSWD service providers”, DSWD-CAR
Regional Director Janet P. Armas said.
“This will be a challenge for us
considering the geographical terrain of
the Cordillera Administrative Region, but
we accept the challenge to provide not just
fair but efficient social welfare service”,
Armas added.
MC 11 is an off-shoot of MC 9 which
reiterates the Department’s ole authority
in identifying its beneficiaries. MC 9 also
stated that the release of DSWD assistance
is allowed only within DSWD premises.
“Identified Off-Site Serbisyo locations
will be coordinated and communicated
with our partners in our areas. Our
beneficiaries will be informed on this
and our personnel or their counterparts
will be coordinating closely to ensure
that the implementation of our programs
and services will benefit our target
beneficiaries”, Armas shared.
The Social Focus
As defined by the DSWD, target
beneficiaries of the protective services
program are individuals who are indigent,
vulnerable, disadvantaged or those in the
formal sector, and other sectors who are in
crisis situation based on the assessment of
DSWD social worker.
The Off-Site Serbisyo will be
implemented when it is shown that onsite
payment or release results or tends to
result to inconvenience to beneficiaries.
Once implemented and locations are
established, this will be available during
office days and hours. # DSWD-CAR,
SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye
G. Villanueva
3

DSWD - CAR
Family builds ‘dream home’,
finds peace of mind
C
ordillera Administrative Region-
Peace of mind was seldom
experienced by George and Sylvina
Boto-og of Brgy. Tanulong in
Sagada, Mt. Province. The couple, together
with their five (5) children are engulfed with
fear especially during the rainy season.
“Idi 1991, ada iti nagaburan ditoy ayan
mi. Idi 2011, nag landslide manen. Isu
nga kananayon nu agtudon ket mabuteng
kamin (Noong 1991, mayroon natabunan
dito. Noong 2011, nag landslide naman.
Kaya natatakot na kami tuwing umuulan.)”,
Sylvina shared.
The family had to deal with this until
the family was granted the Core Shelter
Assistance provided by the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Nakaawat kami iti 70 thousand pesos
nga nag-gapu iti DSWD. Isu iti inusar mi
nga naggatang iti materyles iti balay mi
(Nakatanggap kami ng 70 thousand pesos
mula sa DSWD. Ito ang ginamit naming para
makabili ng mga materyales para sa bahay
namin)”, George said.
The Core Shelter Assistance is one of the
interventions of the DSWD under Disaster
Mitigation and Preparedness. It aimsto
provide environment-friendly, structurally
strong, and decent shelter units to families
who are victims of disaster or calamities in
relocation sites provided by the national
or local government units. Under the Core
Shelter Assistance Program, the beneficiaries
are given the monetary resource to cover
the expenses of the materials while the
beneficiaries provide the manpower during
the construction.
Meanwhile, Boto-og family was able to
complete their home in 2013. “Maymayat
tatta ta as-asideg kami iti kalsada. Maymayat
iti danum ditoy. Sobra-sobra iti danum nga
mausar mi. Awanen pay iti buteng mi uray
ag-bagyo. (Mas maganda ngayon dahil mas
malapit kami sa kalsada. Mas mayos din yung
[supply ng] tubig. Maraming tubig na pwede
naming gamitin. Hindi na rin kami natatakot
kahit bumabagyo)”, Sylvina added.
As per guideline, the beneficiaries are
provided with a minimum of 60 sq. meter
home lot where they can construct their
core shelters. The shelter units are required
to include the basic parts such as kitchen,
bedrooms, and bathroom.
However, the family decided to continue
improving the core shelter provided by
the DSWD. Through the hard work of the
couple, they were able to pool additional five
thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00) which they
used to pay the expenses for the labor and
materials of the extension of their home.
“Talaga nga impaaramid mi met ti
extension [sala] na daytoy balay para iti
pamilya mi. Dayta ket pag-ayayaman iti
ubbing ket nu adda bisita ket adda pagdagusan
da. (Talagang gumawa kami ng extension
[sala] ng bahay para sa aming pamilya. Dito
pwedeng maglaro ang mga bata at kapag may
bisita ay mayroon silang tutuluyan)”, Sylvina
said.
The family has expressed full acceptance
and ownership of the core shelter unit
provided to them. “Kayat mi ditoyen. Haan
kami nga umalis ta daytoy ket bagi mi,
nagrigatan mi. (Gusto namin ditto. Hindi na
kami aalis ditto dahil saamin ang bahay na ito,
pinaghirapan namin.)”, George emphasized.
As of 26 August 2016, there are 884 core
shelter units being constructed in the region.
Based on the 2015 Guideline on Shelter
Assistance, beneficiaries of the core shelter
assistance may receive Php 130,000.00.
Victims with partially damaged houses may
receive a maximum of Php 10,000.00 while
victims with totally damaged houses may
receive a maximum of Php 30,000.00. Victims
who fall below the National Statistical
Coordination Board (NSCB) food threshold,
residing in high risk areas, and families with
small children, lactating or pregnant mother,
persons with disability or other special needs
and are not receiving any housing assistance
are the priority of the DSWD’s Shelter
Assistance.
Individuals who are interested to avail
of the said assistance should report to
their respective Local Social Welfare and
Development Offices in their municipalities/
cities or may contact the DSWD Field Office
Cordillera Administrative Region Disaster
Management Focal Arnold Lartec through
dmudswd@gmail.com or (074) 446-59-61.
#DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT,
Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
4 The Social Focus

DSWD records
61.46% rehabilitation
of undernourished
children
C
underweight
decreased to 1,457.
Children
ordillera Administrative Region-
The Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) has
recorded 61.46% rehabilitation
among underweight children enrolled in
Early Childhood Care and Development
(ECCD) or Day Care Centers in the
region after six month of feeding.
These children benefitted from
the Supplementary Feeding Program
(SFP) of the DSWD. Around 42,696
day care children were weighed upon
the beginning of the feeding cycle in
2015. Of these children, 3,780 were
measured to be underweight. After six
months of feeding, out of the 41,871
day care children weighed, number of
The Social Focus
children
with
normal weight have also
increased from 38,705 to
40,250.
“We, in the
Department, are pleased
to see an improvement
in the nutritional status
of our day care children.
These developments
can be accounted to the
concerted effort of our
partners and stakeholders” DSWD OIC-
Regional Director Janet P. Armas shared.
“For the past year, we have accounted
some practices of our partners that helped
in the implementation of the Program”,
SFP Focal Person Eleonor Bugalin said.
Among the practices include the
conduct of Parent Effectiveness Session
initiated by the local government of La
Trinidad in Benguet.
Day Care parents and guardians
are required to attend the Parents
Effectiveness Sessions. The sessions
focus on topics
including children
rights, proper
childcare, nutrition,
and family and child
development. Parents
and guardians unable
to attend the sessions
are penalized Php
200. The amount
collected is being
used to augment
in providing the
needs of the day care
centers.
Among these
centers is the Camp
DSWD - CAR
Dangwa Day Care Center located inside
the Philippine National Police Office, in
La Trinidad, Benguet. Aside from this
strategy, Day Care Worker Miriam S.
Botongen coordinates with the Philippine
National Police Cordillera (PROCOR)
and other agencies. As a result, physical
fitness activities, and annual medical and
dental check-up have been conducted to
the Camp Dangwa Day Care children.
Other activities involving the children
conducted include “Batang Munti,
Kalingain, Kalusugan Pagyamanin”
Project, tree planting activity which
teaches children how to protect and
preserved the environment, recycling of
waste materials, and Gulayan sa Day Care
Center Project.
“We would like to commend our
partners who give beyond what is
expected of them. Their strategies are
valuable inputs for our Department to
further improve our service delivery.
We hope that our partnership with them
continue to flourish this year and we are
optimistic that these will help our clients
for an improved accessibility of our
programs and services”, Director Armas
shared. # DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing
Unit, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
5

DSWD - CAR
Maria’s journey to aging
gracefully and productively
Cordillera Administrative Region-
Her skin is dark and wrinkled. Her
hair shows streaks of gray. Her body
has turned fragile. But these would
not keep Maria from aging gracefully and
productively.
Maria D. Galong from Brgy. Karikitan in
Conner, Apayao was born on 26 March 1953.
This year, Nanang Maria is 63 years old but as
she roamed around the area where we met,
she exudes an aura that of a young lady- full of
enthusiasm and passion.
AS HER NAME IMPLIES
In foreign languages, Maria means
bitterness, revenge, or rebellion. True enough,
Nanang Maria had her fair share of life’s
bitterness and challenges.
Nanang Maria lost the men whom she
thought she would spend her days with. She
married twice, but she lost them both as they
have succumbed to illness and eventually,
death.
She has a child,
Marlo, who is now
38 years old and has
finished courses on
automotive and diesel
mechanics. But this does
not spare Nanang Maria
from the challenge of
providing their dail
needs to survive.
FROM BITTER TO
SWEET
Though life has
tested Nanang Maria, she never faltered to
turn her journey into an enjoyable one.
She was only able to finish her 2nd year in
high school since her parents did not see the
importance of educating a daughter. Due to
lack of support, she dropped out of school and
started to do farming for a living.
Despite this, she became
an active member of their
community as she was then
elected as the President
of Karikitan-Guinaang
Religious Group and the Rural
Improvement Club which was
organized by the Department
of Agriculture.
“Nakita siguro ng aking mga
kasama na may maitutulong
ako kahit konti lang. Kasi ako,
kagaya rin nila[ng mahirap]
kaya naman naiintindihan ko
yung sitwasyon nila”, Nanang
Maria shared in vernacular.
Aside from these groups,
Nanang Maria is also a
member of the Senior
Citizens Group in Conner,
Apayao. She is among the
senior citizens who assist the
Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD)
and the Local Government
of Conner during the
distribution of stipends under
the Social Pension Program.
Though a social pensioner
herself, she is glad to serve her
Nanang Maria is among the senior citizens who assist
during the Social Pension Pay-out in Conner, Apayao
constituents.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos dahil
binigyan n’ya ako ng talento upang makatulong
sa mga kagaya kong senior citizens”, Nanang
Maria added.
In the Cordillera, Nanang Maria is among
the 70, 287 social pensioners who receive a
stipend amounting to Php 500.00 per month.
The stipend is released every quarter to
indigent senior citizens who are not under
other pension program, those who do not
receive support from their relatives or those
who do not have a source of livelihood.
As of 30 September 2016, there are 38,150
social pensioners who have already been
served. The Field Office, through the Social
Pension Program Management Office, is
continuously conducting the distribution of
stipend through on-site pay-outs, and fund
transfer to the local government units. A total
of Php 421,722,000 has been allotted for the
Social Pension Program here in the Cordillera.
“Hindi kinakailangan na mataas ang
natapos mo para makatulong sa iba. Dahil
sa sitwasyon ko, mas naging madali para
saakin na lapitan ng mga kasama ko na senior
citizen dahil magkakapareho lang kami, at
naiintindihan ko ang sitwasyon nila”, Nanang
Maria shared.
Nanang Maria may not have supple skin,
long black hair, or a vigorous body. But that
does not make her any less than an example
of someone who is aging gracefully and
productively as she has whole heartedly served
her fellow senior citizens and this passion
to serve has made her even more beautiful.
#DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT,
Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
6 The Social Focus

Feature:
‘Merrier’ Christmas for
Norman and Erlinda
C
ordillera - Norman and Erlinda* got
married in December 2004. Since then,
the couple has celebrated the Christmas
season with their family and friends.
“Every Christmas, pinupuntahan namin ang
aming mga kapamilya. Sila ang kasama naming
nag-cecelebrate. Sa office naman, during family day
or Chirstmas party, pamangkin ang kasama o kaya
minsan ay wala”, Erlinda narrated.
Though the couples had tried many times,
they remained to be childless. This led them to the
decision to adopt a child. But it took years of praying
before the couple decided to take the first step.
Everything worth having is worth waiting (and
praying) for
Sometime in July 2015, the couple finally
decided to start their adoption journey despite
knowing that the process would not become brief
and easy.
“I went to DSWD-CAR and approached
someone I knew who kindly ushered me to ARRS
[Adoption Referral and Resource Section] in which
I was entertained so kindly and was given materials
regarding adoption, forms of several pages to fill up
and a long list of requirements. I was also told that
the process would take time. At home, while reading
with my husband, it was stressful especially that we
are not used to work on papers. But we started to
accomplish the requirements”, Erlinda shared.
“We worked on all requirements, but the last
requirement we had was the neuropsychological
examination. And here we faced a great trouble.
Typhoon came and there was heavy rain. Our
car tires got deflated and we had no spare but we
had to attend to our schedule and took the exam.
After two weeks of waiting for the report, another
typhoon came which left Baguio City at least two
weeks without electricity. The result has not been
printed yet. The following week, the doctor’s files
were corrupted so she had to make another report”,
Erlinda reminisced.
This led to a month delay in this stage of the
process which would normally take only a week.
But this did not stop Norman and Erlinda from
pursuing their dream of having a child.
“These incidents were discouraging, only that
we have the strong faith. God knows what is best for
us”, Erlinda shared.
Finally, the couple was able to submit their
application on October 2015.
“On January 2016, another set of questionnaires
were given and was validated during the home
visit. The production of the home study report was
delayed due to a family problem encountered by the
social worker handling our case but we understood
The Social Focus
because it was reasonable”.
“This time, our relatives knew about our plan.
Sometime in February, hinahanap ni mama ang bata.
I was shocked yet happy. The withering hope was
watered by mama. She was interested of having her
grandson even by the way of adoption. And I know
that there will never be a problem come my son.”
“Noong una, ito yung isa sa mga rason kaya
nag-push through pa rin kami, pero later on, nakita
namin yung kulang, dadalawa lang kaming magasawa
sa bahay. Trabaho, bahay, trabaho, bahay,
ganoon na lang parati”, she shared when asked what
made them push through.
“Noong time siguro na nawawala na yung faith
ko dahil sa pag-hihintay, pinag-ppray ko na lang siya.
Pray lang ng pray”, Erlinda added.
Trusting in God’s Perfect Time
In April 2016, Erlinda was scheduled to
accompany a relative to Korea. However, her VISA
application was turned down. Not long after, a good
news was received by Erlinda. On that same day, she
received a call from the Reception and Study Center for
Children (RSCC). The RSCC is one of the temporary
residential care facilities run by
the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD).
It provides interventions to
abused, neglected, abandoned,
surrendered, and exploited
children and those with special
needs such as children at risk
and children who are in need of
alternative family care.
“It was supposed to be a sad
day but on that same day was
a call from ARRS that there is a
child that was matched with us.
Profile was sent through mail. We
were looking closely at the child’s
picture and he looked so much
like my nephew. We accepted
him and scheduled to fetch him”,
Erlinda shared.
Matching is a step in the
adoption process where the
preferences of the adoptive
couple are suited to a child
available for adoption or foster
care.
Soon after, Norman and
Erlinda officially became the
proud parents of a two-year old
boy.
“Alam mo, pinagpray talaga
namin siya. Tignan mo ang
DSWD - CAR
binigay sa amin ng Panginoon. May balat siya, may
balat din ako. He is made for me. “Mahirap man
maghintay, in God’s time, you just have to wait for
God’s time. And now that we have him, we are real
parents. We have a little boy who hugs us when we
arrive home after work. We have a playmate. He
makes me a super mom and I try to do everything
for him”, she added.
“Noong una, it was hard. But later on, I realized
na talaga sigurong may mga couples na hindi
mabibigyan ng anak dahil may mga bata na gaya
nila na nangangailangan ng pagmamahal ng isang
magulang” Erlinda shared.
Months after they started the process of
adoption, Norman and Erlinda had a ‘merrier’
Christmas with their son. “On the 25th, we went to
church together and we spent the day as a complete
family. The long waiting has paid off. Having him, joy
is in our hearts.”, Erlinda shared. As for the child, he
is now having a merrier Christmas with the family he
can call his own.
Adoption is the socio-legal process of giving a
permanent home to a child whose parents have given
up their parental rights. The process can last for one
year to one year and a half. This process also upholds
the right of the child to identity.
Individuals interested to adopt may forward
their concerns or visit the Adoption Resource and
Referral Section (ARRS) of DSWD-CAR at SN
Oriental Building, Baguio City near PhilHealth-
CAR.# DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit,
Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
* Surname withheld to protect the privacy of the family
7

DSWD - CAR
DSWD validates poor households in
Cordillera Administrative Region
The Department of Social Welfare and
Development Cordillera Administrative
Region (DSWD-CAR) through its National
Household Targeting Unit (NHTUis
validating households in the region as part of
the second round of household assessment of
the Listahanan.
Listahanan, formerly known as the
National Household Targeting System
for Poverty Reduction or NHTS-PR is
an information management system that
identifies who and where the poor are
nationwide.
Parts of the ongoing validation are EX02
complaints or the households who claimed
that they were not assessed during the data
collection phase. Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program pertner beneficiaries who have no
name matches in the Listahanan 2 database are
also being validated if they are still in the area
and receiving grants.
Listahanan Regional Field Coordinator
Theodore Bilagot Solang said most of the
“no name match” were due to misspelled
names while those that were not assessed by
enumerators were due to various reasons
such as no qualified respondents during the
time of assessment, vacant houses, migration
of households, and the lack of time for the
assessment.
Household members that are valid to be
respondents for the assessment are those aging
18 years old and above.
The validation of Pantawid Pamilya
beneficiaries started on July 2016 with the
assistance of Pantawid Pamilya staff in the
municipalities. Validation of other cases or
grievances started in August and is expected
to last until the end of 2016.
“To date, we have validated 129 EX02
complaints whereas there are 9 in Ifugao, 102
in Kalinga, and 18 in Mountain Province”,
Listahanan Regional Associate Statistician
Shirley N. Claver said. “There are still 220
Pantawid Pamilya housholds for assessment
and 659 EX02 complaints for validation”,
Claver added.
Generation of the profile of poor
households will follow after the validation.
Sharing of data to different stakholders will
be after the finalization of the Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 10173 or
Data Privacy Act of 2012.
The Listahanan second round of
assessment in CAR was conducted from March
to December 2015. Any queries on Listahanan
may be forwarded to the NHTU at (074) 422-
05-89. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING
UNIT, Mark Erik King D. Guanzon
8 The Social Focus

DSWD - CAR
Indigent families open “mini grocery” in Apayao
Pudtol, Apayao- In unity there is strength.
This is a quotation which has been proven many
times, from the liberation of a country to the fall
of an empire. This can also be exemplified in the
Province of Apayao which is a province rich in
culture and natural resources but is burdened with
one of the deadliest battles of this era – POVERTY.
While some are comfortably resting in
their sofas, drinking cups of expensive coffee, or
bragging about their expensive watch, there are
people who sit on the ground, who could not
gamble their time to rest just to eat three times a
day, or those whose only way of knowing time is by
the movement of the sun. Some families in Apayao
experience the latter.
Small Dreams
The Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program
members in Pudtol, Apayao realized the
importance of having a sustainable livelihood
project that someday can help increase their
income and directly help them to meet their
basic needs. In 2014, 387 individuals from these
Pantawid families formed a federation known as
Sustainable Livelihood Program Federation (SLP
Federation).
The Federation came up with a proposal to
establish a Grocery Store and Agricultural Farm
Supply. And this was made possible with the
assistance of the Sustainable Livelihood Program
(SLP).
“Noong una, nag decide kami na mag buo ng
federation para makatulong sa monitoring ng SLP
projects na individually managed kasi that time,
wala kaming Project Development Officer”, SLP
Federation President Susan Cabusi shared.
However, the group noticed the high demand
for grocery and agricultural farm supply in the
area especially during pay-outs. With that, the
federation came to the idea of setting up a Grocery
and Agricultural Farm Supply Store.
“Ang main purpose po talaga kung bakit kami
nag-decide na magkaroon ng grocery store ay dahil
nakita namin na instead of private merchandisers
and makinabang sa pera ng Pantawid beneficiaries,
pwede namang Pantawid uli ang makinabang
doon at para magkaroon ng mas magaan-gaan na
bilihan ang mga Pantawid [Pamilya] households
kaya mababa rin yung markup namin sa mga
bilihin dito”, Susan added.
Mini steps to make the dream to reality
The SLP Federation aimed to reduce the
number of individuals caught in the poverty line
by creating sustainable livelihood using their
group fund. This group fund came from the
P500.00 capital share, P20.00 membership fee and
P20.00 annual due.
On 25 July 2016, the Federation is able to
open the Grocery and Agricultural Farm Supply
The Social Focus
Store. With the initial capital share of 193,660.00,
the store is now established near the Municipal
Capitol of Pudtol. The grocery sells frozen foods,
grocery products, agricultural supplies and SLP
products.
Aside from the low markup, customers of the
store are given additional discounts and patronage
refund.
“After two years of operations po, lahat ng
Pantawid members ay magkakaroon ng patronage
refund. Yung mga hindi naman po Pantawid
members, binibigyan naman po namin sila ng
discount at freebies”, Susan said.
Bigger dreams for the mini grocery
While others dream of having a six foot three
gleaming red Ferrari, the SFP Federation’s dream is
to have a tricycle to transport goods to barangays
where trucks are unable to go. The federation also
plans to construct small stores on upper barangays
to sell the products from the grocery.
“Kailangan din po sana namin yung tricycle
para magamit na pang-deliver sa mga barabarangay
dahil target din
naming na magkaroon
ng branch sa mga remote
barangays para mas
accessible din para sa mga
beneficiaries.” she added.
“Plano rin po sana
namin na magkaroon ng
mas malaking building para
mas marami pa kaming mastocks
para ma-cater namin
ang needs ng customers
namin. Gusto rin namin na
mai-display dito yung SLP
products para mai-market
namin.” Susan shared.
While the store is
operating as planned, the
federation continues to
dream bigger. The group
is also looking forward
to more innovations and
assistance from partners
like the local government
unit, and other national
government agencies.
“Noong nag-ooperate
na yung store, tumutulong
na saamin ang Department
of Trade and Industry. Sila
ang tumutulong saamin sa
pag-maintain ng mga libro
namin. Pati yung LGU
nagbigay ng refrigerator
at yung Provincial Social
Welfare and Development
Office po nag-conduct ng
capacity building activity para saamin.” Susan
added.
With will to alleviate poverty, the Pantawid
families of Pudtol, Apayao looks forward to the
successful operation of the SLP Federation Grocery
and Agricultural Farm Supply Store and to the
realization of their dream of winning their battle
against poverty.
Pantawid Pamilya and SLP are two
of the poverty alleviation programs of the
Government being implemented under the
Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD). While Pantawid Pamilya provides
grants in exchange of compliance to certain
conditionalities, SLP seeks to improve the
socio-economic capacity of the poor by
providing livelihood opportunities through
skills training, employment facilitation, or
provision of seed capital assistance to enhance
their access to basic social services and
improve their standard of living. #DSWD-CAR,
SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Mark Erik King D.
Guanzon and Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
9

DSWD - CAR
Feature:
Another
Jonah Story
Remember that story told by your
catechist or parents about a prophet
who was swallowed by a huge fish
for three days and three nights
before being thrown on a dry land? His name
was Jonah.
But here’s a modern Jonah story who
wasn’t literally swallowed by a huge fish
instead she was nearly enslaved by poverty.
She’s a young woman, a wife, and a mother
to five children and she broke away from the
shackles of poverty.
Juna Sanggoy belong to the Kankanaey
tribe of Kapangan, Benguet. Now at
the age of 35, she tried to look back on her
rocky beginnings as a member of this everchallenging
society.
In the beginning
She did not dream of improving her life
as she didn’t even know that she is living a life
below poverty line until just a couple of years
ago.
“I’m regretful that I didn’t care to
learn about a lot of things,” she shared in
vernacular. Admittedly, she wasn’t able to
learn skills which could be her passport in
raising a family. For years “I was a plain house
wife who barely helps my husband Benjamin
in our sayote farm,” she continued.
A high school undergraduate and a
wife at the age of 15, she now admits to lack
knowledge and skills on family rearing and
much more on skills to help provide for her
family.
As her family grows, “financial challenges
began to build up one by one as my children
start going to school,” she said.
I can’t help notice the frustration in her
voice as she talks about getting angry when
her children ask for allowance before they
go to school. “Most of the time, I just get
angry to cover up my embarrassment that
I can’t provide them proper allowance,” she
exclaimed.
As farmers, Juna’s family wait for three
months before they could sell their crop and
have some cash. Usually, they plant string
beans which have a maturity period of three
months.
Within those months “we have to live
day by day without giving our children
regular “baon” (allowance)” Juna said.
Because of this financial struggle, Juna
decided to avail of TESDA’s skills training.
However, she doesn’t have a high school
diploma to qualify her for the training. This
didn’t dampen her spirit to acquire some
skills at least so she enrolled in the Alternative
Learning System of the Department of
Education (DEPED).
“I graduated in 2005 even if I had three
kids,” she said with pride. She finally earned
that precious document certifying that she is
a high school graduate.
She persevered and succeeded in
juggling her roles between her family and
her studies and eventually her Beauty Care
Training with TESDA (Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority).
Juna years after
As we continued to share stories, my
admiration for her resiliency started to build
within me and made me wonder where
mothers get all those kind of strength.
The first time I saw her was when she
10 The Social Focus

shared a bit of her story during a visit of
former DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman.
That time she stood with pride at the
small stage at Kapangan municipal gym.
She seemed nervous but confident as she
delivered her speech.
I was guessing that most of us who were
listening to her didn’t know that three years
ago she had a low self-esteem and she who
would never step on a stage to speak in front
of many people.
But that day, she was a community
volunteer, a DSWD partner beneficiary who
was able to hold the audience including the
Secretary and municipal officials with her
speech.
She made an impression on the audience,
including me, so I pursued an interview
with her. After earning a national certificate,
she said she was happy having learned skills
in beauty care thus she began building her
dreams of profiting from it.
But then the happiness and those dreams
she had started to crumble as she was again
faced with the lack of financial capital to start
a business. “I don’t have a capital to start with
and I lack marketing skills,” she said.
In 2012, she became a DSWD beneficiary
where she learned family rearing through the
family development sessions. “My family’s
relationship slowly improved and we can
better manage our family now.
She was also granted a PhP 10, 000 capital
from Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP)
of the Department to start her beauty care
services.
“Although it wasn’t enough, I was able
to start a home service beauty care business
in my municipality and later to nearby
municipalities.
Slowly, she started to feel that she is part
of her community so she got herself involved
in some activities of her barangay. She then
joined as a community volunteer for the Kapit-
Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and
Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-
CIDSS) Project in 2013 and until now remains
as one.
“Before, I have very low self-esteem but
now I came to find my self-worth and became
an active member of my community,” she said.
At present, she is also being invited
as resource speakers during Family
Development Sessions with other families
in her municipality. “She is very active in
community activities as member or leader
of committees created,” Kalahi-CIDSS Area
Coordinator Fidela Gawidan confirmed.
The Social Focus
During Juna’s home services to her
clients, she takes time to tell and invite them
to participate on the activities for community
projects.
“While being a volunteer, I heard about a
cooking training from other villagers during
a barangay assembly and I readily joined, she
continued.
Because of that, she can now prepare
and package candies, mallows, pulvoron and
other processed food which she sells around
her municipality even while on her way to
her beauty care clients.
“Now, I can provide at least for our
kitchen and a little allowance to my children,”
DSWD - CAR
she said with a shy smile.
Juna is just one of many Filipinos who lacked
opportunities but after being provided with
one, it has created a ripple effect to her family
and to her community. From being a timid
and typical housewife, Juna proved that with
pure effort anyone can turn into a versatile
and resilient person ready to change her life
and to her community.
Her story may not be the typical rags to
riches but she represents those people who
are just waiting for the right support before
they can unfold their potential. #DSWD-
CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Jasmin P.
Kiaso
11

DSWD - CAR
Family beyond
sexuality
Emmanuel Agbayani is a 32 year
old transgender woman from
the town of Flora in the province
of Apayao. She was born male.
Growing up in their community was
not easy because even at an early age,
she knew who she was and it was truly a
struggle. It was the love, understanding,
and wholehearted acceptance of her
family that got her through all the other
rejection she has felt throughout the
years.
Not All Heroes Wear
Capes
Emannuel or Emma as
she wants to be called now
was the only one who
finished her secondary
education while the rest
of her siblings only got
through elementary. Due
to financial constraints,
even she, wasn’t able
to continue on to
the tertiary level,
but this did not
stop her from
persevering to
do better.
During
planting and
harvesting
season, she
works in the
rice fields; and
in between
seasons, she
works as a
freelance
beautician in
their town.
Emma also
works in the rice
merchandise where she met her partner,
Jofrey.
The Four Letter Word
It wasn’t love at first sight, but it was
indeed, love. Emma recalled she didn’t
really like Jofrey when they first met
because she was scared of him. “Ang
pangit niya kasi ma’am kaya ko siya
tinatakbuhan” she said with a laugh. She
even used to hide in the stockpile and ran
to the merchandise store whenever she
saw him coming. But this did not keep
Jofrey from pursuing her and eventually
got together in 2003. This is when she
said “may totoong magmamahal at
nagmamahal pala sakin ma’am”.
Emma described their thirteen-year
relationship to be romantic and funloving.
Although she also shared that it
wasn’t easy. In fact, for the first two years of
their relationship, they have encountered
countless trials that tested both of them,
but they managed through their increased
love, trust, humor, and most importantly,
prayer.
Acceptance and Moving Forward
Since she was openly a transgender
woman, Jofrey’s family had a hard time
accepting her. They even called her names
and threw heartbreaking insults her way.
“Marami akong natanggap na pang-aapi
at insulto pero pinaglaban ko siya ma’am,
kase mahal ko siya”, Emma shared.
And true enough, they have beaten
the insurmountable obstacle in their
relationship and are now living together
in their own built house together with her
son.
A Family, a Home, and a Brighter
Future
In 2009, Emma became a grantee of
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DSWD - CAR
the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
with her son as her beneficiary. She shared
that the program gave her hope and a
better understanding of life.
“Idi awan pay ti Pantawid, pirmi a
kakaasi kami makasangit ak pay ta awan
maipabalon ko jay ubing aglalo nga
dakkel tulong na diyay binulan nga Family
Development Sessions. Idi awan pay ti
FDS kasla kurang ti ammuk, ngem gapu
FDS adu naadal ko panggep ti panagbiyag
ken ti Apo”, Emma added.
Emma also shared that with the grant,
she is now able to buy her son a pair of
slippers and new notebooks every year.
With the grant, she was able to feed him
three times a day unlike before, when she
was lucky to have two meals a day.
Most importantly, she shared that
with these sessions, she learned to become
a better “housewife” and that her faith
became even deeper.
Empowered and Motivated
Earlier this year, the Pantawid
beneficiaries in Flora voted for Emma
to become one of their Parent Leaders.
“Active nak gamin ma’am ti amin
nga aktibidades mi ijay barangay, isu
siguro imbotos nak ti kakadwak”, she
shared.
Emma manifested determination
to continuously learn in every Family
Development Session and she wants to
share this with her fellow beneficiaries.
Thus, she goes all out to encourage
them to actively participate in all
activities by patiently going around
their barangay and visiting them in
their houses just to remind them of
scheduled payouts and meetings.
With her positive attitude and
knowledge acquired in the program,
Emma became an officer in their
local cooperative. She is also active
in the Self-Employment Assistance
Kaunlaran (SEA-K) program under
the Sustainable Livelihood Program
(SLP) of the DSWD.
Emma is the first transgender
woman Parent Leader in Apayao. Her
gender identity and her life condition
did not stop her from improving and
developing her skills and knowledge
The Social Focus
by actively participating not only in
the activities of the Department but
also in all the other activities in their
town. Her gender identity did not also
hinder her from building and realizing
a family of her own. This did not
hinder her from becoming a good wife
and a mother.
The struggles she have conquered
through these years only made her
stronger, and she is now more than
ever ready to face any challenges that
may come her way. “Awan ti imposible
ken Apo nu mamati ka ken agwalo ka,
dakkel ti intulong ti Pantawid program
kenyak kenti pamilyak. Masaya maging
beneficiary, haan lang nga gapu ijay
kwarta ngem gapu ijay da maisusuro
tunggal Family Development Sessions,
ta dakami nga awan adal na ket dakkel
nga tulong diyayen”, Emma shared.
#DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING
UNIT, Phylein Maria Rosette U.
Callangan with Claudine Cosi
13

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DSWD stresses importance of community
support for children in conflict with the law
Cordillera Administrative Region- The
Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) here stresses
the importance of providing emotional
support to children in conflict of the law who
are undergoing rehabilitation.
“Aside from the interventions being
provided by the rehabilitation centers, support
from the family and the community can help
the children cope with the process” Social
Worker Novelia Naisod shared.
Naisod is also the Center Head of the
Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth
(RRCY) of the DSWD which is located in
Sablan, Benguet. The RRCY is a facility
designed to provide intensive treatment in
a residential setting for the rehabilitation of
CICL whose sentences have been suspended. It
serves as a nurturing out-of-home placement
for children in need of rehabilitation.
“We want the CICLs to be rehabilitated
and be reintegrated in the community through
various activities like spiritual enhancement
program, psychological and educational
services and others, but putting them in the
center is the last resort. Let us be reminded that
there are other ways of helping these children
through community-based intervention and
diversion programs”, Naisod added.
Aside from center-based treatment,
there are also community-based intervention
programs for CICLs.
“Not all CICLs are required to go to
the centers. The children could stay in the
community but this is based upon the gravity
of their case and upon the assessment of our
social workers. Through a program designed
and implemented in partnership with the
barangay government and the local social
welfare and development office, the children
are guided towards his or her rehabilitation”,
Naisod added.
Since January 2016, there are 26 clients
served in the RRCY of the DSWD. Three (3)
of the cases have been dismissed by the court,
seven (7) discharged for trial reintegration,
and one (1) client discharged for drug
rehabilitation.
“Though these children have committed
activities against the law, they are in some
ways victims too. We try our best to provide
them the interventions that they need for
them to be reintegrated to their communities
and become productive members of such. We
ask the support not only of their families but
most especially, the communities that they
are in because these children deserve a second
chance”, Naisod added.
The RRCY caters to CICL aged 15 years
to not more than 18 years old male, who have
committed an offense and ordered by the
court to undergo rehabilitation. CICL who
are on suspended sentence may, upon order
of the court, undergo any or a combination
of disposition measures appropriate to their
rehabilitation and welfare. #DSWD-CAR,
SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G.
Villanueva
14 The Social Focus

DSWD - CAR
For the Love of
CHILDREN
Baguio City- It all started from a Tarzan
movie she watched when she was just
six years old which has now turned
into the life-long devotion of Teacher
Miriam of Camp Dangwa Day Care Center.
Miriam S. Botongen, 49 years old,
finished Bachelor of Science in Theology with
specialization on Child Training and Nursing
Aid. As she shared, teaching has always been
in her veins. But her love for children maybe
the blood running through these.
“My heart for children started when I
was six years old when I took care of police
children here in Camp Dangwa. Since then, it
was always been my passion. In church, I teach
in the Sunday school. I started teaching when
I was still single”, Teacher Miriam shared.
But in 1991, Teacher Miriam had to stop
to fulfill her duties as a wife and a mother.
“When I got married, I had to stop to be a
full time wife and mother to my four children”,
she shared. “But I never lost my eagerness to
teach again in the day care center. I continued
praying”, Teacher Miriam added.
In 2009, Teacher Miriam’s prayer was
answered. She was able to get back as the
Teacher of Camp Dangwa Day Care Center.
TEACHER MIRIAM AND
HER DAY CARE FAMILY
Teacher Miriam shared what inspires
her. “As a day care worker, I am the 2nd
mother to these children. With this, I am
given the opportunity to be part of their
lives”, she said.
However, it is not always easy for her.
As a Day Care Teacher, Miriam also faces
challenges involving her day care family.
“It is difficult to encounter cases of
child abuse in my day care children. Also,
it is challenging to handle cases of single
parents. But we are able to provide proper
intervention in partnership with the police”
Teacher Miriam shared.
Despite these, Teacher Miriam remains
committed to continue teaching in the Day
Care Center.
“As a Day Care worker, there are many
challenges along the way, but just have faith
in yourself and in God. Also, we have other
people to help us”, she shared. “I have prayed
to God that I become a blessing to others and
I feel that through this, I am able to fulfill
the realization of this prayer”, she added.
Teacher Miriam is among the Day Care
Workers who continuously perform their
duty regardless of the amount of honorarium
The Social Focus
that they receive in exchange of such. It is
through them that our Early Childhood Care
and Development or Day Care Centers are able
to cater and contribute to the development of
our three to four year old children.
This story is not only to recognize
Teacher Miriam but also to salute and express
gratitude to all our Day Care Workers who
do their work with commitment and passion
only for the love of children. #DSWD-CAR,
SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye
G. Villanueva
15

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