DSWD-7 calls for more civil society participation in poverty alleviation programs4Ps now include families of streetchildren, victims of crimes
By Ferliza C. Contratista
CEBU CITY, Jan 8 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in CV (DSWD-7) reiterated its call for civil society organizations (CSO’s) to participate in government's poverty reduction programs.
The department needs more groups who will help in the implementation of the modified version of the conditional cash transfer popularly known as the 4 P’s “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” Nemia Antipala , DSWD-7 assistant regional director, said during a program briefing for CSO members.
“We want to reduce hunger and poverty but DSWD cannot do it alone but together we can make a difference,” Antipala said. The agency needs help in the conduct of Family Development Sessions (FDS) for beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT).
DSWD-7 4Ps focal person Aileen Lariba said there is a need for more private participating groups because the needs of the household beneficiaries under MCCT are more complex than those of the original conditional cash transfer beneficiaries.
MCCT covers families whose children were victims of child trafficking and violence; and children with disabilities and street children.
“These are not ordinary families and they have special needs so we are encouraging these NGO’s to partner with us because they are already handling these type of clients,” Lariba said.
Identification of beneficiaries are done through the accredited NGO’s and CSO’s. However unlike the original 4 P’s, MCCT identified beneficiaries have more frequent meetings called Family Development Sessions (FDS). Lariba said they are required to meet every week instead of the once a month FDS.
“Aside from that, the meeting is not only attended by the social worker but there is also a psychologist, from the education sector,” Lariba said.
On the financial side, Lariba said there is no difference; each family received P500 for the head and P300 for every child, maximum of three children for every family.
“It is really very personalized, there is close monitoring because we have to make sure that all the needs are met, we have to take them out from the streets if they are “libud-suroy’s,” Lariba said.
Private organizations who are interested must submit Updated Work and Financial Plan, Monthly Monitoring Report, Quarterly Accomplishment Report, Financial Reports as prescribed in Commission On Audit Circular 2007-001 or based on the requirements of external funding organizations, Project Documentation Report at the end of the project period.
They also need to be registered with government agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, Cooperative Development Authority and others or accredited with DSWD.
Antipala said there are 17 CSOs that have shown interest in DSWD’s call for public-private partnership specifically in strengthening the promotion of family life among household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya program.
The Conditional Cash Transfer program started in 2009 with 10 identified barangays in Cebu City and some municipalities in Negros Oriental. (mbcn/FCC/PIA-Cebu)