THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region XI through its Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program, organized Family Congress 2023 on Sept. 28.
Lee Mecris Berdos, DSWD XI BP2 focal person, said the activity aims to showcase success stories of the BP2 beneficiaries from various provinces in the region, recognize the best efforts of local and national agencies, and foster collaboration among stakeholders.
BP2 was institutionalized through the Executive Order No. 114 signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte on May 6, 2020, aimed at providing beneficiaries “who decided to settle at their original hometown or in other resettlement areas, a wide array of opportunities for an improved quality of life.”
Under the BP2, each eligible beneficiary receives a Transitory Family Support Package (one-shot cash assistance of P50,000), Livelihood Settlement Grant (business start-up financial assistance of P50,000), and the Transitory Shelter Assistance (house construction).
Berdos said that part of the congress is the “Kumustahan”, wherein the progress of the beneficiaries will be monitored after they receive the different packages from the program. Some 45 families and associations that are B2P beneficiaries joined the event.
Veza Mae Mindog, a beneficiary member of New Corella BP2 Livelihood Association in New Corella, Davao del Norte, who was present at the congress, told TIMES that the program has helped bring her back on her feet during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mindog worked as an aesthetician in the city and was affected by the lockdown way back in 2020.
“Sauna nga wala pa ni nga program, makaingon ka sa isa ka adlaw kaduha ra makakaon og bugas, sal-otan ra ang paniudto og saging, kamote, pero pag abot sa BP2, nakaingon mi nga di najud mi magutman,” Mindog said.
Shortly after being an individual beneficiary, she now leads the association of BP2 beneficiaries in New Corella with 18 members. The association has successfully provided its members a stable source of income including hog raising, sari-sari store, street vending, wi-fi vending machines, hito ponds, native chicken-raising, and frozen products.
Mindog said they received P50,000 from LGU as a starter for their business. They also underwent training through the Department of Agriculture (DA XI) in animal raising and received seedlings, fertilizer, and tools they could use in farming. Just recently, an incubator was provided to them by the department which can be a source of income for their association.
Davao del Norte was the pilot province in the region that accepted returning families affected by inflation from highly urbanized areas during the pandemic.
The 2-day family congress from Sept. 28-29 in Malagos Garden Resort is in line with the celebration of Family Week according to Presidential Proclamation No. 60 highlighting the role of family in nation-building.
