When Myril Ocheña started saying her piece during the 2nd Convergence Caravan held in Kawayan in Biliran province, there was maintained silence all throughout her talk, in the town plaza where a crowd of day care children, parents, and farmers converged. That was Friday, September 30, 2011 – the day when beneficiaries of three big ticket programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Eight stood up to have their voices heard.
The testimonial of young lady Ocheña stirred the group, and it became the highlight of the event as it sent to tears, not only the ordinary people, but workers and employees of the field office and other agencies, as well.
DSWD Field Office Eight Director Leticia Diokno said she took it as a real display of feelings . . . of appreciation for the PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (PANTAWID PAMILYA), which is no more than giving of cash grants for the children’s health/nutrition and education, but an investment in human capital.
With a sing-song voice, Myril delivered her speech which goes:
“Bago ko po simulan o sabihin ang gustong iparating sa inyo, ako’y magpapakilala muna sandali. Ako po si Myril Ocheña, may labing dalawang taong gulang. Pito po kaming magkakapatid – panganay po ako sa lahat. Ang aking mga magulang ay sina Maria at Reynaldo Ocheña. Nandito po ngayon ang mama ko, at ako po ay nagmula sa Barangay Balaguid, Cabucgayan, Biliran – studying at Cabucgayan National High School and a first year student.
Nagpapasalamat po ako ng maraming beses sa PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM na isa ako sa pinili para magbigay testimony. At bilang estudyante na miymenbro ng programa, napakalaking bagay po para sa akin ang tatlong daang piso buwan – buwan na tulong ng programa para sa kagaya kong mahirap na nagsusumikap para lang makapag – aral.
Dahil sa totoo lang po, noong wala pa ang PANTAWID PAMILYA, kahit saan, nanghihiram ng pera ang mga parents ko.. . sa panahong wala sila, para lang matustusan ang aking pag-aaral. Pero ngayong narito na ang PANTAWID PAMILYA, meron ng katuwang ang aking mga magulang. Kahit High School man lang, ng sa ganoon, katapos ko ng high school, bahala na ako sa sarili kong magplano para makapag-aral ako ng College.
Para po sa pamunuan, ipinangangako ko na di ko sasayangin ang pagkakataon na ito na tulong ng gobyerno. Ito’y gagawin kong inspirasyon at tulay tungo sa tagumpay. Maraming salamat pos a inyong lahat!”
What the barrio lass was saying was reflective of a poor child’s will to get out of poverty by way of making good use of government programs. “If there’s a will, there’s a way as an old adage goes. “
The caravan is the second conducted this year as a means to promote the Department’s Convergence Strategy, which aims to harmonize the DSWD’s major core protection programs – the KAPIT-BISIG LABAN SA KAHIRAPAN : COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED DELIVERY OF SOCIAL SERVICES : KAPANGYARIHAN AT KAUNLARAN SA BARANGAY ( a community-driven development approach), SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE – KAUNLARAN ( a livelihood and capability – building program), and PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM ( a conditional cash transfer program ).