DSWD-ARMM launches media tour in Lanao for 2Ps program-by MARIZ REVALES and RIC CLET

Cotabato City –More than thirteen media personalities from Cotabato and Iligan cities launched an   educational media tour sponsored  by the Department of Social Welfare and Administration of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD-ARMM)led by its Regional Information Officer (PIO) Ghilmar Lao in the towns of Bumbaran and Wao, both in Lanao del Sur recently. DSWD Regional Acting Secretary Hadja Pombaen karon Kader and Pam Susara of the National Project Management Office and Public Relation Officer of the Pantawid Pamilya program were also present. Kader in her speech at Somogot Elementary School, she challenged the pupils to study hard as they were monitored by their teachers in their attendance as one of the conditions.  " We were also monitored by media in our implementation of the program, so study hard and don't absent in your classes and this should be understood by parents and health workers", Kader said. She also expressed gratitude to Bumbaran Mayor Mastura Manabilang and vice Mayor James Manabilang for their full support to the program and expects that they will campaign to other Local government units (LGU) to do the same. Kader disclosed that the two million family beneficiary came from Patikul, Sulu in the ARMM and they presented them to President President Benigno Aquino in Malacanang recently. Vice Mayor Manabilang in his part, said to the pupils, "libre ang mangarap, mag aral kayong mabuti upang makaahon tayo sa kahirapan". Bumbaran has more than 821 family beneficiaries in all 17 barangays. Mayor Manabilang also expressed his gratitude to the DSWD for the program that will help uplift the condition of their lives. In Wao, 2Ps was also implemented and was supported by the LGU under Mayor Elvino Balicao, Jr. Balicao said in an interview with reporters that all 36 barangays were benefited by the program. He said that the beneficiary families were qualified. "I am very grateful to the DSWD for implementing the program in my town and this will change the lives of the resident here, and to the media for visiting our place, Balicao said. Media witnessed several programs in connection to 2Ps in the two towns in Lanao del Sur .The media  educational tour ended up by conducting interviews with residents in Barangay Manila group, Wao, which has the same messages of gratitude, appreciation and contentment to the program and to DSWD officials and to President Aquino. Susara in an early interview attributes the hunger incidence decline to the conditional cash transfer known as Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program now Pantawid Pamilya (2Ps) implemented by DSWD, a program that will free households out from poverty. Susara disclosed with the positive impact of the CCT, DSWD will be benefited the largest budgetary increase in 2012 to53.6 billion. "This would allow DSWD to support more families and President Benigno Aquino III ordered the department  this year 2011 to add 1.3 million more household beneficiaries to the program", said Susara, head of social marketing  unit of Pantawid Pamilya Program. She added that by this year, DSWD have covered one million beneficiaries. She said that they are targeting 2.3 million (household) beneficiaries in which  number two million household beneficiary, the family of  Sharon Hassan Dabblang was presented to President Aquino at Malacanang recently with Acting Regional Secretary Kader. The family came from Patikul, Sulu. "The program is actually an investment in the human capital for the children's health, nutrition, education.. In terms of poverty reduction, kung dati   hindi sila kumakain, ngayon malaking tulong ito sa kanila",Susara said. The biggest number of beneficiaries are in Mindanao where poverty incidence is higher than the rest of the country, particularly in ARMM also in regions 9,8,5 and 10. Beneficiaries receive cash grants of P6,000 a year and P3,000 for one  school year. The 2Ps is coupled with other poverty reduction programs to ensure its sustainability.