Manila, September 30 — “As government communicators, you need to speak in one voice and be quick and proactive in giving accurate, true, evidence-based and timely information to the public.” This was the message of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman to the members of the Development Communication Coordinating Network or DevComNet, during their quarterly forum held today at La Breza Hotel, Quezon City.

DevComnet is an information exchange network of different information units from government line agencies and departments, government-owned and controlled corporations, and government financial institutions which holds quarterly meetings hosted by a member agency. The DSWD hosted the meeting for this quarter.

“Getting information is easy with access to social media, print and broadcast but verifying this information is very difficult,” Secretary Soliman added.

Secretary Soliman also emphasized that DevComnet members must help in disseminating accurate information about the government’s programs. “We are grateful to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Secretary Sonny Coloma for giving us this opportunity to inform our fellow public servants about the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT). The CCT is a program which invests in children’s future. It is not just DSWD’s program but the national government. All of you are our partners in ensuring that these children remain healthy and in school,” the Secretary explained.

On the other hand, Pantawid Pamilya National Program Manager Director Rodora T. Babaran discussed the program’s expansion covering 15 to 18 years old in line with the Department of Education’s K to 12 program.

In her presentation entitled, “Future Forward, Investing in the Education of our High School Children,“ Director Babaran cited the story of Kimboy, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary who dreams of achieving higher education yet his family cannot afford to send him to high school because it would entail bigger costs.

“To help Kimboy and other Pantawid beneficiaries, 15-18 years old, attain their dreams, we are expanding the program’s coverage in 2014 to 10.2 million children including 6.3 million in elementary and 3.9 million children in high school from  1,627 cities and municipalities,” Director Babaran added.

In line with Pantawid’s expansion, the DSWD is launching an enhanced advocacy campaign dubbed as “Kaya Natin Maabot ang Lahat ng eto – Kaya Ko!” with the message “help Pantawid children reach their dreams.”

To show their support, the DevComnet members grouped into clusters and gave their respective commitments. The clusters are Human Development and Poverty Reduction comprising DSWD, DepEd, CHED, DOLE, DA, DOLE, TESDA, NEA and the Philippine Development Institute (PIDS); Good Governance and Anti-Corruption composed of COMELEC, DAR and CHR; Economic Development including SSS, GSIS, BCDA, DPWH, DTI and DOST; and Peace, Justice and Security comprising CHR, AFP and PNP. ###