Butuan City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga Field Office recently hosted the National Consultation Workshop and Quarterly Field Assessment and Technical Assistance to the Indigenous People (IP) focal persons of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program held in a hotel here in Butuan City.
The four-day activity aimed to increase appreciation on participative assessment among National and Regional IP Focal Persons for an in-depth analysis of program implementation. Moreover, the activity specifically aims to create a venue of interactive and participatory discussion of experiences, learning and insights in the implementation of the program, to globally and locally abreast of trends and innovations, strategies to advocate rights for Indigenous Peoples that it is important in program implementation and to kindle the spirit of teamwork crucial in meetings goals and objectives.
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The workshop was participated in by twenty-three (23) participants including the Regional and National IP focal persons and resource persons that shared emerging trends and information, skills enhancement as identified by the participants.
The participants also had a tribal dialogue with 18 IP tribal leaders, parent leaders, beneficiaries and youths from the tribes of Mamanwa, Manobo, Banwaon and Higaonon. The dialogue together with DSWD Regional Director Minda Brigoli provided a venue for the IP leaders and beneficiaries to identify issues and concerns of the project concerning the IPs, the tribal dialogue has also been a venue to orient the IPs on the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) program of the department.
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the government recognizes the IP situation of being marginalized and disadvantaged, in order to ensure their welfare and rights, the program created the unit for IP that would put more focus on the IP concerns of the program.
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program has been implemented in the region since 2008 with pre-pilot municipalities of Sibigat and Esperanza of the province of Agusan del Sur. At present, Caraga region has 14,317 Pantawid Pamilya registered IPs as of March 20, 2013. # # # (Social Marketing Unit)