SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 27, 2012) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Sulu provincial government have successfully launched a three-day caravan dubbed as “Kagausan sin Tau-sog Madawhat in Kasambuhan” (Kayang-kaya Ng Tau-sog Na Makamtan Ang Kaunlaran) in an effort to sustain support for the government’s anti-poverty alleviation “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” or the Conditional Cash Transfer Program.
Thousands of people, who are beneficiaries of the program from Sulu’s 19 towns, flocked to the capitol gymnasium in the town of Patikul, and joined the caravan spearheaded by ARMM Regional Vice Governor and Concurrent DSWD-ARMM Secretary Bainon Karon and participated by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan together with town mayors, regional and local DSWD staff headed by Maydelyn Bahjin.
Highlighting the “Convergence Caravan 2012” was the most anticipated “Search for Ginang Pantawid Pamilya” which showcased Pantawid Pamilya mothers from the different municipalities with their traditional Tausug costumes. The Talipao entry bested other candidates when she bagged the title of the very first-ever “Ginang Pantawid Pamilya 2012.”
Karon said the caravan was not a joint effort which aimed to bring social services and development programs closer to the people. “This is just the beginning and there will be more caravans in ARMM because it signifies the rigorous effort to bring beneficiaries closer to opportunities and ensuring that their voices are heard, not only for them but especially for their children who are the real beneficiaries of this program,” Karon said.
Tan, for his part, said that the convergence caravan served as a venue for the beneficiaries to share their Pantawid Pamilya experience and advocate to their local leaders with the hope in pursuing their children’s dreams by supporting programs which would be beneficial for the welfare of their children.
Sulu has more than 80,000 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a rights-based program that invests in the condition of children by giving assistance to poor households so they can continue sending their children to school and provide them proper health care and nutrition. The program believes that by promoting the right of children to have education and good health, poor families have fair chances of rising out of extreme poverty. (Gilmhar Lao)
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