Field Office VII, Central Visayas

The Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries of the 1^st district of Negros Oriental who were enrolled in the program in year 2008 and would graduate 2013, received their P8.4M capital assistance from the Department’s Self Employment Assistance Kaunlaran Program.

The Municipality of Ayungon received P1.6M for 240 beneficiaries, followed by Bindoy with P1.5M for 230 beneficiaries, P588T for Jimalalud for 85 beneficiaries, P1.7M for La Libertad which had the biggest number of recipients at 269, Tayasan with P954T for 140 beneficiaries, and Vallehermoso which received the biggest amount of loan at P2M for 260 beneficiaries.

For more than three years these 1,224 Pantawid Pamilya members have been consistent in complying with the conditions of the program which includes pre-natal and post natal care, immunization, weighing and attendance to family development sessions in order for them to continually receive the P500/month cash grant for health and an 85% monthly school attendance for their children to receive the P300/month/child allocation for education but limited to a maximum of three children only.

The interest-free loan from SEAK gives each of these beneficiaries a chance to be economically active through small scale entrepreneurship they themselves identified to undertake. Some of the identified businesses include hog and livestock raising, additional capital for existing sari-sari stores, a barbecue stand, etc.

Various trainings, capability building workshops in making business proposals, basic bookkeeping, financial management and most of all saving strategies were given to them as a pre-requisite of their loan. The opportunity provided by the SEAK program puts these identified poor in the subsistence level of well-being.

To mark this challenging phase, a ceremonial turn-over of checks was conducted at the Municipality of La Libertad wherein the recipient municipalities were led by their respective Mayors and Municipal Social Welfare Officers. The occasion was also graced by board members Lilan Estacion,MD who represented the Office of Congresswoman Jocelyn Limkaichong, Jessica Koppin who spoke in behalf of Governor Roel Degamo and Georgita Martinez. Speaking in behalf of the district’s legislative representative, Board Member Estacion emphasizes on the huge responsibility they voluntarily undertook from the time they submitted their proposal until they would finish paying up their loan while making their proposed business work. “Suhira ang inyong mga lideres sama ni Congresswoman Josie nga usa ka negosyante apan wala niya hikalimti ang iyang obligasyon sa iyang mga konstituente” (Follow your leaders like Congresswoman Josie who is a businesswoman yet she never forgets her obligation to her constituents).

DSWD’s Regional Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre stressed the importance of transparency as she acknowledges the presence of the LCEs from the different municipalities. “Ang presensya sa kadagkoan sa inyong lugar  nagpamatuod sa ilang suporta sa mga nagkalain-laing proyekto nga gihatag diha sa inyo aron mutabok mo sa kalisod sa dihang mahuman na mo sa programa sa Pantawid Pamilya” (The presence of your leaders shows their support on the various programs given to all of you so would be able to cross poverty threshold by the time you graduate from the Pantawid Pamilya program). She also added “gamita ang kwarta sa insakto para sa inyong umaabot na pag gradwar sa programa na Pantawid Pamilya, makatabok na gyud mo sa kaboprehon” (use the money properly so by the time you would graduate from the Pantawid Pamilya program you have crossed over poverty).

By 2013 these families may not be millionaires but they are definitely better off from where they started. (PR-Lariba)

More than seven thousand families in the disaster stricken areas in Negros Oriental will soon start building their core shelters and buying construction materials to re-build their homes, this as Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre announces the availability of the 92 million allocation for the victims of the flash flood in Negros Oriental whose houses were totally or partially damaged after the devastating typhoon “Sendong” ravaged their homes.

Dir. Macapobre  and the city/municipalities of  Bacong, Amlan, Mabinay, Pamplona, San Jose, Sibulan, Siaton, Valencia and the cities of Tanjay and Dumaguete  in Negros Oriental are currently working out its documentary requirements to effect the transfer of funds the soonest possible time.

The 1,398 families who totally lost their homes  will receive a total of P70 thousand each for the construction of their Core Shelters (CS) while the rest of the 6,356  will be receiving five  thousand each for the purchase of construction materials to repair their homes in a form of Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA).

The Dumaguete City Government is currently considering leasing lots to accommodate core  shelters  for displaced  families washed out by the massive