To recognize families who have religiously followed the program conditions and embodied Filipino values and strong family ties, DSWD – Field Office 1 recently named the regional family-winner for the Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya 2013.

This is to encourage Filipino families maintain a good standing in the community and serve as inspiration to others.

Meeting the criteria with high remarks, the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya award was brought home by the family of Juanito and Evelyn Daniel of Suyo, Ilocos Sur. A hardworking and contented couple focusing on providing best for their two children despite their physical disabilities. They are also members of the Bago Indigenous Peoples Community and are active in community activities, compliant to program conditions and promotes healthy living.

DSWD- FO1 Assistant Regional Director Marlene Febes D. Peralta emphasized that poverty is never a hindrance to attain success and fulfillment of one’s dream and that the families’ social standing did not keep them from being good examples to other families.

Other regional finalists include families from Dingras, Ilocos Norte; Tubao, La Union and Bolinao, Pangasinan. All family entries were validated by a team from the Department of Education; Civil Society Organization (CSO) and media partners.

The search was opened to all program beneficiaries in the region and were judged based on 25% compliance to conditions; 20% healthy living promotion; 20% active involvement in community and environmental activities; 20% demonstration of love and respect to the community and environment and; 15% proper utilization of cash grants.

According to Evelyn Daniel, she is very thankful with the recognition which they did not expect since all entries were equally deserving model families.

 Likewise, one of the judges, DepEd District Supervisor Dr. Feliciano Tumacdang said that the search made him a better person as he appreciated the effects of the program to the family-beneficiaries.

The Daniel Family will be the region’s official entry to the National Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya who will eventually serve as family ambassadors of the program.

Pantawid Pamilya is a conditional cash transfer program of the Philippine government which invests in human capital through health and education by providing cash grants to extremely poor households with children ages 0 – 14 years old. (by: Allan O. Lulu / Information Officer II, Pantawid Pamilya)