The DSWD Field Office VIII, through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, conducted an Awarding and Recognition activity in line with the celebration of the 4Ps 16th Anniversary: Regional Family Day and Children’s Congress, on October 16, 2024 at One Star Events Place, Tacloban City.
During the activity, the program recognized the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya and Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Children winners and finalists, and model Local Government Units, National Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, and Academe across the provinces in the region .
The Dolorzo Family was heralded the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya Regional Winner. On the other hand, the Holanda Family of Palo, Leyte, the Gagatiga Family of Mercedes, Eastern Samar, the Serdeña family of Kawayan, Biliran, the Ayop family of Malitbog, Southern Leyte, and the Abawag family of Motiong, Samar were declared as the Top 2 to Top 6 in sequential order.
Meanwhile, Zyjohn Bito was named the Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Child Regional Winner. Meanwhile, Shantal Shane Beringuel of Dulag Leyte, Princess May Guimbaolibot of Mercedes, Eastern Samar, Ruden Keith Casancio of Naval, Biliran, Ma. Nathalie Ayso of Sogod, Southern Leyte, and Fatima Iah Mae Diola of Las Navas, Northern Samar finished second through sixth, respectively.
Moreover, the Province Government Office of Northern Samar through its Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Lope De Vega, Palapag, and Catarman in Northern Samar, LGU Dulag and the City Government Office of Ormoc in Leyte; LGU Biliran, Biliran, and LGU Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte are the Local Government Units which were deemed and awarded as the Exemplary Local Government Units during the activity. These LGUs provided policy support and fund allocation and implemented various initiatives, programs, and interventions for the Pantawid beneficiaries which immensely resulted in improving their well-being and addressing the supply-side gaps along the program implementation.
Furthermore, National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from the region’s six provinces received awards. These awardees provided interventions to the Pantawid beneficiaries including but not limited to skills enhancement training or capacity building, Income Generating projects, Employment Facilitation, education or Scholarship programs, and Nutrition Improvement Programs among others. The NGA and CSO awardees are the following: Save the Children Eastern Visayas; Stairway Foundation Incorporated; Palompon Institute of Technology-Tabango; University of the Philippines Manila- School of Health Sciences (Palo Campus); Biliran Province State University; Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office VIII; Department of Education (DepEd) Leyte Division; Department of Education (DepEd)- Alternative Learning System (ALS) Northern Samar Division; Department of Health Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development; Provincial Department of Health Office- Eastern Samar; Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Southern Leyte Field Office; Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Eastern Samar Field Office; Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Samar Field Office; Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Leyte Field Office; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Southern Leyte Provincial Office; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Leyte Provincial Office; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades (BCAT)Northern Samar; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)Biliran Provincial Office; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Eastern Samar Provincial Office; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Southern Leyte Provincial Office; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Samar Provincial Office; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Northern Samar Provincial Office; Provincial Science and Technology Office – Samar; and Landbank of the Philippines Eastern Visayas Branches Group.
Assistant Regional Director for Operations Antonio Dolaota, in his welcome message, underscored how the activity serves as the “celebration of the program’s triumphs through our partnership with very supportive and remarkable partner Local Government Units, National Government Agencies, and Civil Society Organizations across the provinces which lead to the improvement of the Level of Well-being among the Pantawid families.”
Dir. Dolaota also added that the Pantawid families and children winners serve as the program’s ambassadors and are regarded as partners in the implementation.
During the activity, the Regional Winners, Dolorzo Family and Zyjohn Bito, shared their respective success stories. Also, Engr. Marie Antoinette Holanda, the Pantawid beneficiary who topped the Certified Industrial Engineer Licensure Examination, gave her testimonial speech. Meanwhile, Hon. Florence “Fawa” Batula, the Local Chief Executive of Palapag, Northern Samar, Dr. Charlie Labarda, Dean of the UP Manila-SHS, and Eden Dadap, Project Development Officer IV of DepEd Regional Office VIII conveyed a message of impression on behalf of the partner stakeholders.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development acknowledges the role of the partnership strategy with key stakeholders and the cooperation of the Pantawid beneficiaries to fulfill its mandates.
