Amplifying the voices of DSWD-assisted poor families and keeping the strong ties with the  tri-media were focused on  DSWD Field Office 1’s Convergence Community Exposure held in Mabini and Bolinao, Pangasinan recently.

The Convergence Media Community Exposure was attended by representatives from Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Phil. Star, DZNL-Aksyon Radyo, DZWN-Bombo Radyo, DZAG- RAdyo ng Bayan, DWIZ, The Weekly Ilocandia Inquirer and PIA-Dagupan City.

In a short tete-a-tete with Mabini Mayor Carlitos Reyes, full appreciation on the Pantawid Pamilya Program was heard. “Since the Program started in 2008, fewer families are accessing the financial aid coming from the Local Government Unit.” Also, the Municipal Transition Plan as presented by Head Social Worker Teresa Ragudos revealed the urgent concerns such as barangays having no electricity and those still using an open-pit for human waste disposal.

Aside from continuation of Scholarship Programs, Livelihood Projects, and Alternative Learning System as counterpart of the LGU to sustain development among the poor families, the above concerns will also be given priority with the help of other agencies and civil society organizations (CSOs).

In Bolinao, Pangasinan, Mayor Arnold Celeste is looking forward for the Department of Labor and Employment’s provision of drying machine to DSWD-assisted group of ‘danggit’ producers. Further, Mayor Celeste talked about the roll-back scheme of the Sustainable Livelihood Program of DSWD which accordingly is being augmented by the LGU if the Pantawid beneficiaries have proven their consistency in paying their dues.

The documentation of convergence stories, which feature the assistance of Pantawid Pamilya Program, Sustainable Livelihood Program, LGU and CSOs interventions in improving the lives of poor families in  Mabini and Bolinao will be compiled in the second volume of Social Hits of DSWD Field Office1.  ### (by: Iryn D. Cubangbang, Information Officer II)