In support to the observance of the International Day of Families on May 15, the National Committee on the Filipino Family (NCFF) chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, will conduct a forum that highlights the changing dynamics of families. This will be on May 17, 2013 and will carry the theme “Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity.”
The NCFF explained that this year’s theme deals about the changing relationship within the family, such as the emerging trend of grandparent-headed or youth-headed families due to the need for family heads to work abroad. Also, the theme tackles the challenges brought by the increasing number of solo parents, and how this affects the relationship within the family.
“The theme is significant as the Philippines is known for having one of the largest numbers of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and hence, many Filipino families are headed by the remaining parent, by the grandparents, or by one of the children,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said.
The forum will be attended by policy-makers, program developers and implementers from Metro Manila Local Government Units (LGUs), National Government Agencies, Non-Government Organizations, civil society organizations, and faith-based organizations.
Topics to be discussed during the forum are: The Value of Faith in Strengthening Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity; Health, Issues and Challenges of Intergenerational Solidarity; Trends in Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity: The OFW Phenomenon and Solo Parenting; Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity; and the DSWD Policies and Programs on Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity.
Testimonies of families headed by grandparents and solo parents shall also be featured in the forum to share the challenges of their multi-generational families.
Further, the forum shall serve as a kick-off to the year-long activities to be conducted by the DSWD to promote and advocate for the development of the Filipino family. Part of this yearlong campaign is the partnership of DSWD with Jollibee Foods Corporation to promote the development of and recognize the contributions of Filipino families.
The Philippines, through the NCFF, celebrates the International Day of Families in support to the worthy cause initiated by the United Nations through a resolution during a General Assembly on September 20, 1993. The UN states that “the annual observance reflects the importance which the international community attaches to families as basic units of society.” ###
