Every day is a fight for survival. This is how a 38-year old family man describes their life, struggling to survive because of unstable work with very minimal pay.
Leo C. Moriles and his wife Jocelyn were blessed with five children. Lucky as they considered it, they were among the qualified beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Brgy. Lower Caynaga, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar. Theirs is no longer a hand-to-mouth existence for almost three years now since their inclusion to the program.
Leo is involved with Trabahong Lansangan, one of DSWD’s means of accessing beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya to gainful employment, in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), to do road maintenance and street sweeping with P409 pay per day of work. The couple expressed how this project has helped them a lot and Leo no longer needs to scrounge around for any work so he could put food on the table. The earnings he gets from this work suffice their daily needs.
While his wife, Jocelyn fully assumed a plain housewife role nurturing her family, she still managed to repay DSWD through her dedication as an active Parent Leader, a member of SEA-K association, and a volunteer worker of KALAHI-CIDSS project of the barangay. Three of their children are also receiving education and health cash grants as beneficiaries to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and they ascertained that said grants will be spent as intended, as they strongly believe that education and good health will alleviate them from poverty.
“Dako an akon pagpasalamat nga natagan ak pati an akon pamilya sini nga mga benepisyo (I am so thankful that my family and I and have been given these benefits),” said Leo. He firmly stated how these programs have improved their way of living.
Leo knows that what they are availing now will not last for a lifetime and that the government support will end in due time. This is also the reason why he does his best to ensure the proper utilization of their benefits. He has even bought a motorcycle (through loan) and uses this vehicle to transport passengers while he is not at work. The money he gets is used to pay for the monthly amortization of the motorcycle, and the excess amount he is able to acquire is set aside for unexpected needs. This is his way of preparing for the uncertain future.
“When you are given a chance to work, you must discipline yourself, value time, and make the most of it, because opportunity, to people like me, rarely knocks,” said Leo.
Leo added that thorough Family Development Sessions (FDS) and other Pantawid Pamilya meetings, has learned about the importance of self-discipline, gained knowledge, enhanced his skills and realized the value of time. These are learnings which he would always bring with him whatever opportunities would cross his way for the good of his family.
The realization he has voiced out reflects a positive understanding on the program’s purpose, likewise future consideration indicates no other than the sustainability of what he and his wife have learned from the program per se. # (FRANCIS R. IBANITA, PDO II/ ERO)
