DSWD Caraga shares updates on agency's
various programs
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY, July 2 (PIA) – In its aim to continuously update media partners on the
development of the department’s programs and services, the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga on Monday met with the media
practitioners here and nearby municipalities and shared with them updates on
the their respective programs and services, and interacted with the media
during an open forum.
In
his message, Ramel Jamen, administrative chief of DSWD-Caraga, said their
office also welcomes negative feedbacks from the media and respond to them
appropriately, since they consider it as constructive criticism, with emphasis
on how the department could better enhance their services to the public,
especially to the marginalized sector of the community.
Aldie
May Andoy, Listahanan Field Coordinator of DSWD Caraga, reiterated
that the Regional Profile of the Poor is generated using pertinent information
in the Listahanan database. According to Andoy, it is shared with the national
government agencies, non-government organizations, local government units, and
other social protection stakeholders through forum and other outreach
activities.
“As
stipulated in the Memorandum of Agreement with DSWD, data users are to
provide feedback on how they used the information generated from the Listahanan
database for proper monitoring and recording,” Andoy added.
It
was also learned that the poorest households in the municipalities are selected
through a Proxy-Means Test. This test determines the socio-economic category of
the families by looking at certain proxy variables such as ownership of assets,
type of housing, education of the household head, livelihood of the family and
access to water and sanitation facilities.
Also,
citing the need to get a travel clearance for minors going abroad, Jessie
Catherine Aranas, chief of Protective Programs and Services
under DSWD Caraga explained that because of incidences of child abductions,
a Filipino minor child, regardless of civil status, is required to secure a
travel clearance issued by the DSWD if the child will travel out of
the Philippines, either alone or with an adult other than a parent.
Aranas
further bared that a DSWD travel clearance is valid for a period of
one year from the date of issuance and shall be valid for multiple travels
within the validity period, provided the conditions under which the travel
clearance was issued have not changed. “If a change in condition occurs like a
change in travelling companion, a new travel clearance must be obtained,” she
clarified.
Aranas
also shared the guidelines for media practitioners on the reporting and
coverage of children. The department has sought the cooperation of the media
partners in the region as they report incidents/cases involving minors.
Meanwhile,
Crislea Celeste, regional program coordinator of DSWD Caraga revealed
that as of April 30, 2018, a total of 187,126 households are enrolled in the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the region. (PIA-Caraga)
