Posted on by Lucy Galvez

(Top) DSWD - FO1 Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo together with San Emilio Mayor Ferdinand Banua distribute the gift packs for the IP beneficiaries in the area. (Middle & Bottom) Doctors and Health workers sent by the Provincial government conduct medical check- up during the recently held Katutubo Caravan.
(Top) DSWD – FO1 Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo together with San Emilio Mayor Ferdinand Banua distribute the gift packs for the IP beneficiaries in the area. (Middle & Bottom) Doctors and Health workers sent by the Provincial government conduct medical check- up during the recently held Katutubo Caravan.

Aimed at providing Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries with necessary knowledge and understanding on basic health and nutritional information including the importance to access medical services, the DSWD – FO1 recently spearheaded the conduct of Katutubo Caravan, an Indigenous Peoples (IP) Caravan in San Emlio, Ilocos Sur.

Various activities were held including orientation on proper nutrition, good hygiene and  importance of maintaining good health thru regular medical checkup. Likewise, IP beneficiaries were informed on their rights based on the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act or IPRA Law. Further, a medical consultation and a gift giving activity were also conducted.

DSWD – Field Office 1 Regional Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo said that IP beneficiaries are given the same importance as the Non IPs. The Director also reminded their responsibilities to comply with set conditions as those are for their own welfare. Accordingly, the said caravan is a way of bringing the government closer to the people. The activity provided an early Christmas gift to the beneficiaries from the government and its partners.

For the medical consultation, the province of Ilocos Sur sent two Doctors and a mobile clinic. Philippine Red Cross Ilocos Chapter sent representatives for the blood testing and energy biscuits as gifts. Medicines were also donated by the Department of Health which were turned over to the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) for distribution. Also, DSWD handed 210 gift packs to families and slippers to children. On the other hand resource persons were sent by the National Commission on the Indigenous People (NCIP) and the National Nutrition Council (NCC).

Representing the beneficiaries, Parent Leader Danillo Dapiosen said that they are very grateful and fortunate to be helped by the government wishing for the CCTs continuity.

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