CSOs-DSWD partnership to serve 5,000 EV poor families in need of special protection

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 14, 2013

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Two civil society organizations recently forged partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in order to serve about 5,000 poor families in Eastern Visayas with children 0-14 years old, who are in need of special protection.

DSWD Region 8 Asst. Regional Director for Operations Nestor Ramos informed that the partnership is in line with the implementation of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program for poor households that are not beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Eastern Visayas.

ARD Ramos identified the CSO partners as the Magbinuligon Parents Association, Inc. of Dulag, Leyte and Hinunangan Family Development Center, Inc. of Hinunangan, Southern Leyte.

The MPAI will operate in six municipalities of Leyte, namely, Dulag, Tolosa, Julita, Mayorga, Tabontabon and Dagami.

MPAI President Marina Duan informed that the organization is targeting to serve 2,350 beneficiaries in the municipalities of Dulag, Tolosa, Julita and Mayorga, and 2,250 beneficiaries in the municipalities of Tabontabon and Dagami, all in the province of Leyte.

On the other hand, Ms. Aida Tagnipez, the Chairman, said the Hinunangan Family Development Center, Inc. has targeted 357 beneficiaries in 14 clustered barangays of Hinunangan, Southern Leyte.

The target beneficiaries are poor families with children 0-14 years of age and who are in need of special protection in the following categories: street children and families in pockets of poverty who are not covered by Pantawid Pamilya and are not in the list of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction.

These include families who are Indigenous Peoples, families with children with disabilities, families of child laborers and families that are displaced due to man-made and natural disasters.

The project of the CSOs which will be funded by DSWD, will augment the limited number of the local DSWD staff in the implementation of the program.

MPAI was allotted more than P3 Million for the implementation of the project while HFDCI was allotted more than P2 Million. The partner CSOs are responsible for the facilitation of referral services and case management of beneficiaries.

Moreover, the CSOs will also conduct trainings and counseling sessions for the beneficiaries. Like the Pantawid Pamilya Program, beneficiaries of MCCT will also receive cash grants provided they comply with the conditions required such as weekly attendance to FDS for the first two months; once a month attendance to FDS for the succeeding months and family counseling sessions; attendance to Alternative mode of learning or formal schools; visit to health centers; and residing in a permanent home after six months of social preparation.

During the MOA signing, ARD Ramos explained the terms of reference for the implementation of the program, the transfer of funds to partner CSOs, and all other conditions and information required by the Commission on Audit from the CSOs pursuant to Item 4.5.3 of COA Circular No. 2007-001 or the Revised Guidelines in the Granting, Utilization, Accounting and Auditing of the funds released to Non-Governmental Organizations/People’s Organization (NGOs/POs).

Since they will be handling public funds, partner CSOs will be required to maintain a separate savings account for each project fund they receive from the DSWD, ARD Ramos underscored.

In choosing partner CSOs, the Regional Selection Committee composed of DSWD, NEDA and PIA officials, looked for criteria such as a good track record on projects for street families and other families in need of special protection, registration or license to undertake projects and accept contracts, a specialized staff to handle families with special needs, an established office in the city or municipality where the project will be implemented, and documentation procedures (case management) and on-file case records of families and/or children in need of special protection.