Butuan City- Partners from the media groups and National Government Agencies (NGAs) in Caraga join the Byaheng Pagbabago on December 8-10, 2015 at the municipality of Pilar, Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte.

Spearheaded by the Social Marketing Unit (SMU) team of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga, the Stakeholders’ Learning Visit and Project Exposure Trip dubbed as Byaheng Pagababago was actively participated by the various partners and stakeholders of the agency.

Partners who attended are the representatives from GMA News-Surigao, Democratico Post, Super Banat, Hope Radio, Philippine News Agency, Butuan Star, Philhealth, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The learning tour aims to showcase the positive changes experienced by the partner communities, families, and individuals of the different social protection programs and services of DSWD.

Furthermore, the visit also seeks to draw awareness and appreciation from the partners and stakeholders about their significant contribution of internal and external convergence.

“Since the social protection programs of the Department have been on board for quite some time now, significant number of individuals, families, and communities have experienced development and positive change. The Field Office, through the SMU, wanted to showcase these feats to the external partners and stakeholders who significantly contributed to the effective and efficient program/project implementation” bared Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli.

Through the activity, the participants of the Byaheng Pagbabago saw in person the sub-projects implemented by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program in barangays Punta and Caridad.

They also heard stories coming from the partner-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and observed the conduct of the Family Development Session (FDS) in Brgy.Caridad.

The partners also witnessed the actual feeding of day care children who are beneficiaries of the Supplementary Feeding Program.

Also in Brgy.Caridad, Byaheng Pagbabago participants dropped by at the General Merchandise of the participants of Sustainable Livelihood Program.

After the tour, an exit conference was conducted of which the participants shared their learnings during the activity.

One media partner commented that he observed the good implementation of projects by DSWD because development is observable in the communities they visited.

“We are thankful for the invitation because through this activity we witnessed the positive changes which happened to the communities through the interventions of DSWD,” said one news writer. ###(Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)