The core poverty reduction programs being implemented by the national government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, (DSWD) has changed the lives of millions of beneficiaries nationwide.
Their stories showcasing hope, courage, and determination to rise above poverty are chronicled in testimonies attesting to how the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community Driven Development Program (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP) and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) have changed their lives for the better.
These transformational stories are packaged in Kaya Ko ang Pagbabago, an information and empowerment campaign that aims to communicate the stories of change (pagbabago) in the lives of the beneficiaries of DSWD’s programs and services.
According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, the campaign empowers not only individuals and communities, but also key stakeholders in supporting the convergence of programs and services of the Department, and the government in bringing positive change and significant development to the lives of the poor and the vulnerable.
The campaign also aims to popularize the expansion of Pantawid Pamilya covering the 15-18 age group in view of the K-12 curriculum implemented by the Department of Education.
Beneficiaries speak out
Christian Taglucop, 21, from Barangay Nipa, Palanas, Masbate is a beneficiary of the Student Grants-in-Aid for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA), a mechanism which reflects the government’s thrusts in effectively addressing poverty.
SGP-PA is implemented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in partnership with DSWD as a long-term instrument and commitment to break the vicious cycle of poverty afflicting the poor.
Christian stated, “Malaking tulong po ang pagiging benipisyaryo ko ng SGP-PA upang maipagpatuloy ko ang aking pag-aaral sa kolehiyo. Nag-aaral po ako nang mabuti dahil gusto ko pong makatulong sa mga kapatid ko na makatapos sila hanggang kolehiyo. Ito po ang istorya ko ng pagbabago. Dahil kaya ko ang pagbabago! (Being a beneficiary of SGP-PA is a big help, it enables me to continue my college studies. I am studying hard because I wanted to help my siblings, so that they too, can finish college. This is my story of change, because I can!).
“Nagpapasalamat po ako dahil tinupad po ng DSWD ang pangarap kong makapasok sa kolehiyo (I am grateful to DSWD for making my dream of entering college come true), Christian affirmed.
Intan and Hiyawata Agcon from Conner, Apayao, beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya and SLP also shared how these programs transformed their lives, enabling them to move up from the level of subsistence to self-sufficiency.
Due to poverty, Intan was not able to go to school, but she realized her dreams of sending all her 10 children to school, even until college, through the help of DSWD.
“Ayokong maranasan ng mga anak ko ang naranasan kong hirap. Gusto ko silang sumulong sa buhay at magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan (I don’t want my children to experience the hardships I encountered. I want them to move up in life and have a bright future),” she shared.
“Dahil sa tulong ng mga programa ng DSWD tulad ng Pantawid at SLP, napagtapos ko ng college ang apat kong anak. ‘Yung dalawang anak ko naman ay nakatapos ng vocational course. ‘Yung pang-pito ay kasalukuyang kumukuha ng Education. ‘Yung pang-walo ay nasa high school at ‘yung dalawa pa ay nasa elementary (Because of DSWD’s programs, like Pantawid and SLP, four of my children have already earned college degrees. The other two finished vocational courses, while the seventh is taking up Education. My eighth child is in high school, while the last two are both in elementary),” Intan added.
“Maraming salamat sa DSWD dahil nakaya namin na mabago ang aming buhay. At alam ko na madami pang darating na magandang pagbabagong mangyayari sa buhay namin dahil kaya namin ang pagbabago (Many thanks to DSWD because we were empowered to change our lives, and I know that many more positive changes are going to happen. We have it in us to change for the better), she enthused.
Jorivic Bautista, a volunteer of Kalahi-CIDSS from Barangay Dangay, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, shared how the program helped transform their community.
She narrated how she gained new knowledge and skills through Kalahi-CIDSS.
“Bilang volunteer, lahat ay sinasalihan ko kahit yung mga orientation sa munisipyo at mga seminar sa mga kooperatiba, sa BFAR, at sa Malampaya Foundation. Kumukuha ako ng ideya kung paano magpatakbo ng negosyo, kaya talagang nagpupunta ako pag may mga orientation ang mga kooperatiba (As a volunteer, I joined all the activities, including the orientation at the Municipal Hall, seminars at the cooperatives, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Malampaya Foundation. I get ideas on how to run a business, so I really go to the orientations conducted by the cooperatives.)
“Sobrang tuwa ko talaga dahil mauumpisahan na ang aming proyekto. Dama ko na lahat ng paghihirap naming mga volunteers ay unti-unti nang nababawi. Magandang umpisa ito para sa lahat sa amin, hindi lang dito sa Brgy. Dangay kundi sa buong Roxas. Kaya namin ang pagbabago (I am very happy because we have started our project. I feel that all our hardships as volunteers are worth it. This is a good start for all of us, not only here in Brgy. Dangay, but in the entire town of Roxas. We can change! ),” Jorivic said.
Christian, Intan, Hiyawata, and Jorivic are just some of the beneficiaries whose lives were transformed for the better through the convergence of programs implemented by the government, through the DSWD.
There are many more out there, and as Sec. Soliman puts it, “As long as we know that we are keeping children in school and healthy, sending the older ones to high school and college to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to improve their lives, empowering women, and helping communities achieve progress and development, we are assured that we are on the right track of making people change for the better.” ###
