Pantawid Pamilya capacitates beneficiaries to work overseas

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2601433245666/pantawid-pamilya-capacitates-beneficiaries-to-work-overseas
• Wednesday, June 3, 2015

By Erika Carmela B. Inovero and Recthie T. Paculba (PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 3 (PIA) – To further improve the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) created the Technical Vocational Skills Training Program (Tech Voc), one of the approaches of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in upholding its mission to improve socio-economic well-being of every beneficiary.

One of the recipients of the training program is Aida May Jangao, 34, who recently completed the Household Services skills on May 8, 2015. Prior to opening the door of opportunity to work abroad, Aida makes a living through selling fruit salad while her husband Felix Jangao Jr., 34, raises the family through retailing goats and pigs. Together, the couple earns around P2,500 to P3,000 per month.

Residing in Purok 3, Lagtang, Alubijid, the couple is blessed with one child, Mark Gabriel, 6, an incoming grade one pupil. Thus, with their meager income and a son to raise, they became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya since 2010.

Upon knowing that the Tech Voc is implemented in their area, Aida immediately enlists herself and took up the training program’s Household Services-National Certificate II where she was trained for 25 days, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during Saturdays and Sundays.

“Maayo kaayo ang training kay daghan ko natun-an. Labi na ang saktong pagtrabaho sa balay, aha sugdan ang paghinlo, unsa'y gamit sa panghinlo ug daghan pa. (The training was really good because I have learned a lot. They taught me how to clean the house properly; the areas that should be handled first, the equipment that should be used and a lot more),” Aida shared.

Recently, Aida has been planning and preparing to work as a domestic helper either in Middle East or Hong Kong on October this year. However, she also noted that the pros and cons of making the decision are in a constant see-saw as to which outweighs the other. Though high salary and good benefits are enticing, she still has security issues and uncertainties of being a wife and mother if she works abroad.

She intends to transfer the conditional cash grant to her husband’s name and send her son to her parents in Bohol after he finishes his study this school year. Though leaving her family seems to be a very tough decision to make, Aida is very positive that her absence along with the issues that may come with it will be endured by the family.

DSWD however assures Aida the continuous monitoring, counseling, updates and assistance for her family’s social welfare whenever she finally decides to brace a better economic opportunity.

“Pasalamat kaayo ko nga ang ila gyung giimplement na programa kay nakatabang financially sa amo. Dili lalim pero paningkamutan nako na matarong akong trabaho. I- manage pud nako among kwarta ug i-negosyo (I am really thankful that they implemented a program that financially helped my family. This is not easy but I will try my best to do good in my job. I will also manage our money carefully and put up a business in the future)," Aida said.

Pantawid Pamilya is a poverty reduction strategy of the DSWD that provides grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education, particularly of children aged 0-18. Through providing incentives for poor families, they invest in the future by also ensuring that mothers and children can avail free healthcare as well as free education. Hence, it aims to give monetary aid to poor beneficiaries with the hope that these investments in human capital would lessen the great financial divide among Filipinos.