Some 880 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from Misamis Oriental have qualified to work abroad after graduating from vocational courses at the Skills Mastery Institute (SMI), a private institution based in the province.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that the Department continues to partner with private institutions like SMI to help in the implementation of the Department’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) through provision of free skills training.

Of the 880 beneficiaries, 444 have already passed employers’ requirements and are now waiting for their schedule to leave and work abroad. The rest are also completing their requirements for overseas employment.

The 880 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries have completed vocational courses on household services, housekeeping, massage therapy, beauty care, cookery, food processing, food and beverage services, plumbing, shielded metal arc welding, and carpentry.

Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor families, primarily those with children aged 0-18. It provides cash grants to partner-beneficiaries who comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for checkups, and attending the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).

To complement the cash grants given to poor families, DSWD also provides them with sustainable livelihood support through SLP to improve their socio-economic status. This is done by enhancing their employability and productive capacity through community-based trainings. ###