by: Claro A. Lanipa
Pagadian City, 31 May (PIA) – The local government unit
of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur, celebrated its third year Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program Day, a
Multi-Stakeholders Caravan held at the Antonio V. Apostol Sr. Memorial Central Elementary
School (AVASMCES) gymnasium and school grounds on May 29-30, 2012.
Mayor Daylinda Perez-Sulong in her opening message
during the formal opening of the two-day event expressed her wholehearted
thanks and gratitude to all the stakeholders for their all-out support to the
poverty reduction program and social development strategy of the national
government.
Lapuyan was one of the first 12 municipalities of the
province to avail the Conditional Cash Transfer which is widely known as
Pantawid Pamilya. To date 2,561
indigent households of the municipality benefitted from the program.
To make the event more significant different activities
were set, such as the conduct of Agri-Fair where Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries
displayed their farm produce to be sold to the public. The First Infantry
“Tabak” Division Philippine Army rendered free dental and circumcision among
children, while the LGU’s health officials offered medical consultations with free medicines.
Bloodletting operations were also conducted by the
Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).
Other stakeholders like the Philippine Health Insurance
distributed Member Data Record
(MDR) to some 3,862 Pantawid Pamilya
beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. While NCIP, DOH, DSWD, DepEd, DOLE, DTI,
DAR, DA and TESDA were also invited to answer queries and consultations from
the beneficiaries and to give updates on their programs and services.
To highlight the event a mass wedding called ”Gbelai di
Dlepuyan 2012” a Subanen term, was conducted wherein 395 couple-beneficiaries were
solemnized as one by Mayor Sulong, witnessed by DSWD 9 Regional Director Teodulo
Romo together with other guests and the local officials of the said
municipality. (CAL/PIA9)
