City poverty reduction, protective programs win awards

The city government poverty reduction and protective programs were recognized during the 71st DSWD Anniversary Celebration in the region last Feb. 19, 2022.

The city was conferred two regional awards during the program — the Gawad sa Paglingkod sa Sambayanan (GAPAS) Good Convergence Initiative Award for invaluable support and outstanding contributions to DSWD core poverty reduction programs and the GAPAS Award Model LGU implementing protective program and services.

City Social Welfare and Development Officer Betty Fangasan received the awards and delivered the acceptance speech.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed elation for the recognition of the city’s efforts to speed up delivery of social services to those needing them. 

He lauded the OCSWDO for spearheading the city’s programs.  “Well done by our OCWSD Officer Betty Fangasan and team.  You and your team made a huge difference,” he said.

The city was cited for implementation of core programs that contribute to poverty reduction like the Pantawid Pamilya and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Its efforts to sustain protective services which are designed to prevent abuse and exploitation among children, youth, women, persons with disabilities and senior citizens or to provide treatment and rehabilitation to victims and survivors of abuse and exploitation were also lauded.

Fangasan said that as of November 30, 2021, there were 2,681 active Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program households in the City of Baguio provided with various interventions aside from their cash grants to improve their level of well-being.

The programs pursued are: Strengthened Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Services for Economic Recovery and Resiliency by Upgrading the Loom Weaving Industry in the City of Baguio in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Baguio-Benguet Provincial Office; Strengthening Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs); Building Partnerships to Support Recovery of 4Ps Households; Cash Assistance for Poor but Deserving College Students of Baguio City; Conduct of Capability Building Activities to Promote Early Recoveries among 4Ps Beneficiaries through the Use of Safe and Secured Platforms; Case Management of 4Ps households ; Equitable COVID-19 Vaccines; and Collaboration with CSO Partners and Inter-Agency Partnerships.

For the protective programs, the OCSWDO established Psychosocial Intervention Unit (PIU) formerly Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) to facilitate applications for guarantee letters for medical assistance.

Other programs implemented were:

*Youth development programs focused on leadership skills training, sports and other diverse alternative programs to encourage them to participate in anti-crime, anti-drug, and anti-juvenile delinquency activities.

*Diversion/intervention program for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) where children-at-risk and CICL were provided essential services that can address the underlying causes of engaging in criminal offenses or behavior such as alcohol and drug abuse in their barangays with the close supervision and monitoring of the Unit Social Workers in close coordination with the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC).

*Community-Based Services to Children In Need of Special Protection (CNSP) is the provision of a package of structured developmental services to children needing special care and attention to ensure their normal development. Services provided focused on the management of trauma for the victims of abuse and the provision of intervention/ diversion programs or opportunities to prevent children from entering the Juvenile Justice System and redirect their activities that promote gainful and productive ones which will eventually enable them to acquire socially acceptable behavior. 

*Programs and Services to Disadvantaged Women promote the welfare of disadvantaged women giving special attention to the prevention, eradication of exploitation of women in any forms as well as promotion of skills for employment and self-actualization.

For the year, the city recorded 104 cases of Women in Especially Difficult Circumstances (WEDC) wherein Psychological and Physical Abuse are the prevailing types of abuse being suffered by the clients.

The office through the Local Council Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women and Their Children (LCAT-VAWC), closely worked together for the provision of appropriate services to the women victims that would lead to their empowerment. As a strategy, Total Family Approach was employed by the workers in handling cases of WEDC.

The OCSWDO also conducted capability building to VAW DESK Officers and kagawads on Social Services especially on the handling of VAW Cases at the barangay levels were undertaken to strengthen the reporting system of VAW in the community. – Aileen P. Refuerzo