Australian Embassy officials led by Ambassador David Dutton were impressed by how the core programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have helped poor families in the Bicol Region.

This is after the officials visited recently the projects being implemented through the partnership of DSWD and the Australian Government in  the towns of Pilar, Donsol, and Legazpi City.

These include those under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi- CIDSS) and the  Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, two of DSWD’s core programs.

The visit provided a venue for the Australian officials to get direct information from the beneficiaries on how the programs are implemented at the community level.

Also, the team studied how these programs contribute to the personal growth and development of the beneficiaries.

“It has been a great visit. In particular, I have learned a lot on how these programs have helped communities. I came to understand the strategic policy on where the programs allocate the money. They really prioritized what the vulnerable people need such as education,” Ambassador Dutton said.

Through Kalahi-CIDSS, the poorest villages in the country are able to identify their primary needs and implement projects that respond to their problems.

The team interviewed the people who implemented the Kalahi-CIDSS’ sub-projects such as day care centers and school buildings.

Marites Trinanes, one of the Kalahi-CIDSS’ volunteers told the team, “Natupad ang pangarap naming magkaroon ng day care center sa tulong ng Kalahi-CIDSS atAustralian Government.  Maayos at maganda na ang day care center namin at mas marami nang natutunan ang mga bata dahil kumportable sila sa loob ng silid-aralan (Our dream came true to have a day care center through the help of Kalahi-CIDSS and Australian Government. The day care center is well-managed and our kids are learning a lot because they are comfortable inside their classroom).”

The visiting officials also observed the conduct of the Family Development Session (FDS) with the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya in Barangay Esperanza in Pilar and Barangay Pangpang in Donsol.

“I observed that the FDS is really a great help to the people since it helps the beneficiaries improve their familial and interpersonal relationships,” Dutton expressed.

The FDS is a monthly gathering of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries where they discuss topics on effective parenting, husband and wife relationships, child development, laws affecting the Filipino family, gender and development, and home management.

Pantawid Pamilya provides cash grants of as much as P1,400 to qualified households as long as they comply to program conditionalities of sending their children to school and to health centers for check up, and attend the FDS.

Beginning this school year,  Pantawid Pamilya includes 18-year-old children of beneficiaries to ensure that they finish high school.

To date, the Australian Government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) has already provided a grant of more than P45.3 million for the construction of 45 school buildings and day care centers in the region. These have benefited some 14,597 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman thanked the Australian Government for its help in improving the situation of poor communities.

“The support  of the Australian Government demonstrates  its sincerity  to help the vulnerable and disadvantaged. We assure you that this will reach the people who need it the most,” Sec. Soliman said.

Meanwhile, the local chief executives of the project sites assured the Australian Government that they will help in taking care of these community projects.

“In case we need to repair something in the long run, we will take care of it. We will allocate a budget in the barangay fund for repair as well as provide resource augmentation,” Pilar Mayor Dennis Reyes said.

The Australian Government has been supporting Kalahi-CIDSS and Pantawid Pamilya since these started in 2003 and 2008, respectively. ###