The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga recently extended Php80,000 worth of Livelihood Assistance each, to two (2) Tagbina, Surigao del Sur Oplan Pag-Abot Program beneficiaries, as the Field Office kickstart its implementation of the said program.

Prestine Garcia and Junjen Lara each received the said assistance after being identified as recipients to the said program, which aims to reduce the risk and vulnerabilities of children, individuals and families in street situations through provision of various interventions, services and opportunities, improve social status, and fulfill fundamental rights for them to live productively in a safe, supportive and enabling environment.

The program, from the word itself, Pag-Abot, “Reaches out” (in English translation) to qualified individuals and families, to provide a holistic intervention using a multidisciplinary approach on case management to keep off the streets the children, individuals, and families. This is why Garcia and Lara, who once lived in the streets of Metro Manila, were identified by DSWD Central Office as target beneficiaries. As such, they were assisted to go back to their place of origin or residence, which is the municipality of Tagbina.

After being reintegrated with their families in Tagbina, the beneficiaries were then provided the said Livelihood Assistance on August 5, 2024, for them to start their new, productive lives in a safer, more familiar environment. Aside from the Livelihood Assistance, DSWD will work with other partners, including the Local Government Unit (LGU) for the continued provision of interventions to ensure that the beneficiaries will not move back to their previous situations where they are vulnerable and at-risk of abuse and exploitation.

Though DSWD’s research and study, the usual reasons for individuals or families to leave their hometowns for the much busier, bustling cities, or the metro, is because of the lack of opportunities. But with the program providing opportunities to the families in their hometowns after having been reintegrated, this will encourage them to no longer leave, but rather stay and take on the challenges in their hometowns capitalizing on the provided assistance from DSWD and its partners.

DSWD Field Office Caraga will continue to work diligently with the Central Office for future endorsements of rescued individuals/families in the streets who will qualify for the Oplan Pag-Abot Program.