The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga recently held a significant consultation meeting with the PAG-IBIG Fund Butuan Branch to explore ways to extend membership coverage to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The meeting, which took place in Butuan City, was attended by PAG-IBIG Branch Head Maria Olive Sero and Ms. Joey Mar Dammay, Acting Area Head of PAG-IBIG Northern Mindanao Area, along with DSWD Caraga officials. The collaborative initiative aims to integrate Pag-IBIG’s housing and financial services with the social welfare programs provided to the country’s most vulnerable families.
At the core of the consultation was the development of a concrete plan to allow 4Ps beneficiaries to access the benefits offered by PAG-IBIG, especially housing and financial services. Through this partnership, the agencies aim to enhance the socio-economic well-being of the poorest Filipino families, providing them with more opportunities for growth, stability, and a better quality of life.
Expanding Access to Housing and Financial Support
In their discussions, DSWD Caraga and PAG-IBIG representatives also highlighted the importance of providing educational materials to 4Ps beneficiaries. These materials will focus on explaining the benefits of PAG-IBIG membership, detailing how the program works, and guiding beneficiaries on how to apply for housing loans and other financial services. The initiative is intended to raise awareness and ensure that 4Ps families are well-informed about the opportunities available to them, empowering them to take advantage of these services for their personal and financial growth.
Pilot Areas and Timeline for Implementation
A key outcome of the meeting was the identification of pilot areas for the rollout of this collaborative effort. The selected pilot areas include Libertad in Butuan City for Agusan Del Norte, Poblacion in Prosperidad for Agusan Del Sur, and Washington in Surigao City for Surigao Del Norte. These areas were chosen based on the concentration of 4Ps beneficiaries, and the plan is to test the partnership’s effectiveness before expanding it to other regions in the Caraga area.
Both agencies have set a timeline for the implementation of the partnership, with DSWD Caraga providing support in reaching out to the identified communities and helping beneficiaries understand how they can benefit from PAG-IBIG services. PAG-IBIG, for its part, will facilitate the membership registration process and assist in addressing the specific needs of the 4Ps beneficiaries in these areas.
A Collaborative Effort to Improve Family Welfare
The collaboration opened up opportunities for important dialogues in order to forge stronger ties between DSWD and PAG-IBIG, both of which play crucial roles in the improvement of Filipino families’ welfare. Through the partnership, DSWD’s social welfare initiatives can be better integrated with PAG-IBIG’s housing and financial services, creating a holistic approach to family development.
DSWD Caraga and PAG-IBIG share a unified goal of addressing the welfare of Filipino families, particularly those in need, by providing them with the resources and support necessary for self-sufficiency and long-term prosperity. Both agencies emphasized that the collaboration is a step towards empowering 4Ps beneficiaries to break the cycle of poverty and build better futures for their families.
This consultation meeting is just the beginning of a promising partnership, with hopes to expand the scope of services to more communities in the future, benefiting even more Filipino families in need of financial and housing support. The synergy between DSWD and PAG-IBIG signals a significant stride in enhancing the delivery of social services across the country.
