Pantawid Pamilya releases over P50M to beneficiaries in Siquijor

By Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, Nov 17 (PIA) -- The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program released P50,245,000 cash grant to over 3,000 household-beneficiaries in Siquijor province from 2010 to 2012, said a report from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman’s visit to the island on November 12. 

Of the total cash grant, P19,967,700 went to 1,067 households of Lazi town in September 2010 (set 3); March 2011 (set 4) and January 2012 (set 5) releases; and P919,200 to 200 households of Enrique Villanueva in its March 2011 (set 4) release. 

Maria town had 557 household-beneficiaries that got P2,120,500 in June 2010 (set 4) and San Juan, 625 households with P2,115,100 in December 2011 (set 4). 

Siquijor and Larena municipalities are included in August 2012 (Set 5) and September 2012 (set 6) with identified beneficiaries of 634 and 163 households, respectively, but cash grant for the two municipalities are still on process, the report said. 

DSWD secretary Dinky Soliman, in a press conference, said that beneficiaries are those identified “poorest of the poor” based on the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) and that politicians had nothing to do with the inclusion or deletion of their names in the list. 

She disclosed this following reports on alleged involvement of politicians in the province in the identification and delisting of the beneficiaries for the Conditional Cash Transfer or Pantawid Pamilya program. 

“The only ones who can erase their names from the lists are the beneficiaries themselves, not the mayors, not the governors or any other politicians, she said. 

She explained that those delisted from the roster of beneficiaries are those found not following the stipulated conditions or those that are not eligible to receive the conditional cash grants as provided for in the program. 

DSWD-7 information officer Aileen Lariba said the secretary’s visit to the island is mainly to dispel the fears of the beneficiaries aside from the signing of memorandum of agreement for the additional beneficiaries in the province. 

A total of 3,601 beneficiaries have been identified under the 4Ps program in all six towns but only 859 of them were invited to the assembly representing their respective barangays. 

It was also attended by the local government and Siquijor parish priest Msgr. Candelario Catubig, who also wanted to hear the DSWD dispel rumors of political intervention in the CCT on the island. 

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“We are contributing to poverty reduction by ensuring that we will break intergenerational poverty,” Soliman said during the forum. 

She said the Pantawid Pamilya program wants to help children finish at least elementary so that they will have a better life than their parents or their grandparents. 

Soliman said the DSWD is strengthening convergence efforts with other stakeholders following President Aquino’s order to maximize the funds that they get for the poor. 

These include Student Grants-in Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Greening Program (NGP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). 

Convergence and commitments with the Department of Health and PhilHealth are taking place, she said citing the 100 percent coverage of PantawidPamilya by PhilHealth and the Complete Treatment Pack (ComPack) program of the Department of Health (DOH). 

Other convergence efforts are the Free Birth Registration Project with the National Statistics Office (NSO), Philippine Energy Efficient Project (PEEP) with the Department of Energy (DOE), Trabahong Lansangan ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the skills training programs with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). (mbcn/RAC-PIA 7, Siquijor)

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German doctors donate medical equipment to Siquijor hospital

By Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, Nov. 17 (PIA) -- A team of surgeons and paramedics from Germany and the United States recently donated medical equipment and supplies to the Siquijor Provincial Hospital during the team’s visit to the island recently. 

Donations include anesthesia machine, mobile x-ray machine, mammogram, hospital beds, stretchers, storage cabinets, refrigerators, autoclave, medical supplies like gauzes and IV lines, nebulizers, ECG machine and spirometer, says Team leader Dr. Dennis Jumawan- Borces. 

He said their medical team has done 138 surgeries; 72 major and 66 minor surgeries. 

The team includes Dr. Ashley Dindoyal, Dr. KlemensBieringer, Dr. Eugene Schultz, Dr. Sybille Eibel, Dr. Borces, Christian Sehn, Christian Motsch, Frank Shoendorf, Florian Jung, Joyce Mae Powae, Lilia Nash, Nellie J. Larot, Mae Delez and ChidoIbe. 

Present during the turnover were Dr. Carlo Muyco, the provincial health officer II and his staff and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member, Hon. Art Pacatang and other government officials. 

Governor Orlando “Shane”Fua Jr., in a statement said he is very grateful of the support from the German surgeons and paramedics to the island. (mbcn/RAC/PIA-Siquijor)