would want the program to continue and expand. Various sessions on Skills Enhancement, Capability Building, Entrepreneurship, Project Management and Sustainability, among others, conducted through SEA-K and KALAHI-CIDSS have been proven valuable as well. “Dako kini og natabang sa pagpalambo sa adlaw-adlaw nga relasyon sa mga anak ug pamilya, unsaon pagdumala sa mga anak. Gina-apply namo ang natun-an sa pamilya. Napun-an ang among kahibalo(It has helped much in improving family relationships, dealing with my children. We apply what we learn. Our knowledge have been enhanced),” explained Divina Joan Emely Duran, 28, also of Brgy. Amorcruz asserted, “Daghan og natabang kon unsaon pag manage sa pamilya. Anam-anam na abri ang hunahuna. Nahagit ko nga kahibalo diay ko (It
helped me manage my family. My perspective has broadened. I also realized my potentials).” “Nadungagan ang kahibalo. Kon wala ko kaapil sa SEA-K, wala pud ko kahibalo pag-process sa bangko(I am more knowledgeable now. If not for SEA-K, I wouldn’t have known how to transact in banks),” admits Janebeth. From Barangay Mabuhay, farmer Felix Sotto, 60, who is father to seven children claimed, “Nakatabang kini sa pagtudlo sa sakop, pagdisiplina, pagpasunod sa mga bata, pagtudlo sa religion sulod sa pamilya (It helped me educate my family, disciplining my children and teaching them spiritu42
Monday, October 17, 2011
ality).” “Ang additional knowledge i-share sa grupo, give and take dili lang sa pamilya but even sa kagrupo nimo, naa jud give and take (What I learned I readily share it with my group not just with the family. It’s a matter of give and take),” shared Emma Lodia, 31, of Brgy. Sto. Nino and a mother to three young boys. Meanwhile in Talaingod town, Maribeth Tibay, 31, expressed, “Unta magpadayon ang programa, madungagan pa og lima ka tuig (I hope the program continues, to extend to five years more).” Maribeth is a Pantawid Parent Leader and Treasurer of SEA-K Association in Sto. Nino. “Dagdagan pa unta kay nakatabang dyud. Ug alang pud sa uban nga wala pa ma-apil (I hope for extension since it has really helped and so others can also avail),” Susan Campa, 36, said. Susan is a Barangay Health Worker, a Pantawid Parent Leader and President of SEA-K Association. Conchita Lagoy, 51, also a Barangay Health Worker said, “Apil pa unta ang 15 years old sa education subsidy (I wish the education subsidy will cover upto 15 years old).” While Lilan Libayao, 42, President of SEA-K Association, a Parent Leader of Pantawid and President of a GKK (Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban) suggested, “Ihatag napud sa lain kay nakatilaw na man ko. Nakapanukad naman ko. Nakaavail nakog daghan benepisyo (Give it to others because I already have availed of a number of programs).” In 2010, DSWD started to bring together in one community its three major poverty reduction programs –Pantawid Pamilya, SEA-K and KALAHICIDSS. This came to be known as The Convergence Strategy which aims to maximize the impact of the programs. As Secretary Soliman stressed earlier, Convergence is a strategy of DSWD so that the family beneficiaries will not only benefit from the Pantawid Pamilya conditional cash subsidy, but will also access livelihood opportunities from the SEA-K Program, and their community to also benefit from DSWD’s Community-Driven Development approach –the KALAHI-CIDSS. (DSWD/Carmela Cadigal-Duron)