Quezon City –  “Ako noon ay isang simpleng ina lamang, na hindi alam kung paano ko matutulungan ang aking asawa upang maitaguyod ang mag pangangailangan ng aming pamilya. Ngunit salamat sa programang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino, marami akong natutunan na mga bagay na ngayon ay nagagamit ko para sa pag-unlad ng aming buhay (I was a simple mother before who does not know how to help my husband take care of our family’s needs. But thanks to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, I have learned a lot of things, which I can now use to improve our lives).”

This was the gist of Milagros Dizon’s testimony during the flag raising ceremony held this morning at the Central Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at Batasan Hills

Aling Mila, is a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilya since 2008. She is married to Matt Dizon, with whom she has five children, aged 5-11.

Aling Mila’s family is one of the  4,090,667 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya in the country, as of June 25.

In front of DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, other officials, and employees, Aling Mila shared her life story, most notable in which is her transformation from ‘a simple mother’ to an empowered woman.

“Noon ay parati kong inaaway ang aking asawa kapag wala nang makain at wala nang pambaon sa eskwela ang mga bata. Hinahati-hatiko ang kanyang sweldo pero hindi talaga magkasya dahil maliit lang naman ang kanyang kinikita para matustusan  ang lahat ng aming mga pangangailangan (I was always nagging my husband then, especially when there is no longer food and the children have no snacks to bring to school. I allocate his salary, but it is really not enough because his wages are just small to cover all our family’s needs),” Aling Mila related.

She narrated that their lives entirely changed for the better when she became a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, and was chosen as a parent- leader by her fellow beneficiaries.

“Marami akong natutunan at naging kaibigan. Noon ay  hindi man lang ako lumalabas ng bahay. Dahil sa Pantawid Pamilya ay naranasan kong maka-attend ng mga training at mga Family Development Sessions (FDS), na nakapagdagdag ng aking mgakaalaman (I have learned a lot and had many friends. If before, I do not even get out of the house, because of Pantawid Pamilya, I have experienced attending trainings and FDS which added to my knowledge),” she added.

Ensuring that the cash grants she receives go to the education and health needs of her children, Aling Mila added that they now have school  supplies, such as bags, shoes, and uniforms.

She also buys them vitamins, and happily shared that, “Hindi na sila madalas nagkakasakit (They do not get sick often).”

The best part was when she was also chosen as a beneficiary of the Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

She used the capital provided by SLP to expand her home-based business selling native delicacies and dressed chicken to her neighbors.

Aling Mila also joined the SEA-K Association (SKA) in their barangay composed of 15 women. Again, she was chosen as the leader, and although she kept saying “hindi ko kaya (I can’t do it),” she was able to perform the tasks accompanying her position as President which included registering their SKA to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to ensuring that they were able to pay on time the P94,000 loaned to them as capital.

Such was her dedication and enthusiasm that their association paid their loan even before the one year time period for repayment was over.

According to Sec. Soliman, Aling Mila is a living testimony of how the poverty reduction programs implemented by DSWD. It has empowered her to become a contributor to the family income, entrepreneur, productive citizen, and an active community leader.

“Isa si Aling Mila sa mga maituturing na pioneers ng Pantawid Pamilya  at ang kwento niya ng pagbabago ay patunay na  talagang nakakatulong sa pag-angat ng kabuhayan ng mga benipisyaryo ang mga programang pinatutupad ng pamahalaan (Aling Mila can be considered as one of the  pioneers of Pantawid Pamilya and her story of change is proof that the programs implemented by the government really helps uplift the lives of beneficiaries),” Sec. Soliman said.  ###