“It is important that government and civil society work together to strengthen and protect Filipino families amid societal issues like poverty and human trafficking, among others.”

This was the message of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman as the Department led the nation in the celebration of the International Day of Families (IDF) on May 15.

The IDF is celebrated yearly in accordance with the Proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. The event is a reflection of the importance of families to the international community.  It also provides an opportunity to promote awareness on issues and concerns relating to the family.

As the chair of the National Committee on the Filipino Family (NCFF), DSWD held a family forum on May 13 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Cubao, Quezon City.

The forum was attended by some 200 policy makers and family advocates from the different NCFF member-agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, National Youth Commission (NYC), National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Department of Health, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and civil society organizations like the Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, and Pro-Life, among others.

Atty. Jo Aurea Imbong of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines, discussed the “Complementary Roles of Men and Women, Mothers and Fathers in Contemporary Times” which focused on gender equality, as well as equal responsibility and opportunity within the family.

Meanwhile, NYC Commissioner Earl Saavedra gave a timely discussion of the family in the age of social media. He focused on the effects of social media to families, and gave emphasis on the usage of the internet by the youth.

“Families are important to our society. They are the foundation of a strong nation. We must work hard to strengthen our families especially since issues and challenges continue to surface and threaten family unity,” Sec. Soliman said.

Family-focused programs

The Secretary stressed that DSWD continues to give importance to the family through its programs and services.

Some of the programs which aim to strengthen and protect families are the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Sustainable Livelihood Program, and the National Community-Driven Development Program, among others.

These programs give importance to strengthening the foundation of the Filipino family, especially through the Family Development Sessions (FDS) held under the Pantawid Pamilya.

Parent-beneficiaries are asked to attend monthly FDS sessions wherein topics discussed include responsible parenting, gender equality, child development, laws affecting the Filipino family, and home management.

DSWD also conducts Parent Effectiveness Seminars to ensure that parents participate in their child’s development, and the Department also provides continued counseling sessions for both the child and the parents.

Moreover, the Department supports and advocates for positive disciplining of their children. ###