By: Social Marketing

A total of 80 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from the Municipality of Maragondon, Cavite had recently completed the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan-Farmers Training Program of the SM Foundation. The three-month-long training is part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s efforts of ensuring that beneficiaries of the Pantawid Program are provided opportunities to be engaged in income generating activities. This includes provision of skills training, facilitation of employment in private companies or development of micro enterprise as deemed fit to the family beneficiaries. The said efforts are being conducted under the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department. “Ako po ay tumatayo sa inyong harapan bilang isang Pantawid beneficiary na kasapi dito sa farmers training. Sa aking palagay, ito po ang simula ng aming tagumpay. Dahil dito, masasabi kong kaya po ng Pilipinong tumawid sa kaunlaran,” Sally Feliciano said during the graduation ceremony last October 8 2014 in SM Rosario, Cavite. Aside from SM Foundation and DSWD, the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Harbest Corporation and the Local Government of Maragondon also provided support to the farmers training that was also participated by 55 non-Pantawid beneficiaries from the provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Nueva Ecija. “Maraming salamat sa ating mga partners na tumulong mabuo ang training para matulungang maiahon mula sa kahirapan ang ating mga Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries. Dahil sa tulong po ninyo, matutugunan na ng ating beneficiaries ang hamon na makatawid sa kaunlaran ang mga Pinoy,” Dir Leticia T. Diokno of DSWD Field Office IV-A said in her message during the graduation ceremony. Also present during the graduation ceremony were Ms. Cristie S. Angeles, AVP for Livelihood and Outreach Programs of SM Foundation and Mayor Reynaldo A. Rillo of Maragondon. with reports from DKTanedo