BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga Field Office joined the other regional agencies and provincial government offices of Agusan del Sur in the launching of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program of the Aquino government implemented by the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) in Barangay Binicalan in San Luis, Agusan del Sur on May 15-18, 2012.

Barangay Binicalan is home to 259 Banwaon Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries. During the four-day activity, the workers of Pantawid Pamilya conducted several activities such as program orientation to tribal leaders, Family Development Session (FDS) to the grantees, and attended to the updates and grievances filed by the beneficiaries. The workers also answered beneficiaries’ queries on exclusion error, shady status and delisting.

The Indigenous Peoples including the Pantawid Pamilya grantees in Binicalan benefited the medical services of the Department of Health (DOH), wherein they received free immunization for the children and free health check-up was also given to adults. The Department of Agriculture (DA) provided vegetable seedlings. The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and the Department of Interior and Local Government Unit (DILG) served meals to the children as part of their feeding program.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of tribal house in Sitio Galong-gong also highlighted the four-day activity.  The tribal house is a place where Banwaon tribes meet for their rituals, tribal weddings, community consultations, trainings and other civic and tribal activities. Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza, Governor of Agusan del Sur, National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) Regional Director Domingo Gomez, OPPAP Director Enrico Dela Torre and Mr. Olie Binancilan, OPPAP Provincial Coordinator graced the groundbreaking ceremony.

Director Enrico Dela Torre announced during his message that the funds for the Rehabilitation of the farm to market road from the neighboring barangay Don Alejandro to barangay Binicalan is already available.

A total of P4 million was earmarked by the PAMANA Program for the implementation of these projects in Binicalan. With this, many Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries of Binicalan and other neighboring barangay will benefit of the said projects. ### (Social Marketing Unit)