DSWD-7 earmarks P120 million for cash transfer program

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 has earmarked almost P120 million as livelihood assistance to over 12,000 beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) program.

DSWD-7 Information Officer Kerwin Macopia said the agency has funded this year at least 329 support services intervention (SSI) through the MCCT program.

“This is equivalent to P119,927,670 that was all transferred to subsidize the identified projects or the submitted and approved proposals of the beneficiaries,” he said.

These 329 SSI are livelihood plans proposed by the beneficiaries themselves; some of these include hog raising, cattle raising, communal garden and general merchandise.

Macopia said these projects benefit the 12,559 partner-beneficiaries of the DSWD-aided MCCT program.

Some of the beneficiaries are street dwellers in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.

There are also families in need of special protection, particularly those that were affected by super typhoon Yolanda and the strong earthquake that hit Bohol in 2013.

Other beneficiaries are indigenous peoples in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, one of whom is 35-year-old Roselyn Sedillo from Barangay Amio, Santa Catalina town in Negros Oriental.

She belongs to the Tribung Bukidnon.

“Nalipay ko nga naapil aning MCCT kay nakatabang kini sa pagpa-eskwela sa duha nako nga mga anak labi na nga ang akong bana magbunotay og lubi (I am happy to be part of MCCT because it helps in the education of our two children especially that my husband is just engaged in coconut husking),” she said.

Roselyn actively attends to the monthly family development session (FDS). She also served as one of the parent leaders in the barangay because of her skill and capability to guide other MCCT partner-beneficiaries.

Later on, she became the president of their association and now manages their general merchandise store.

They were provided free entrepreneurship training from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to help them manage effectively their store, said Macopia.  He said the MCCT covers poor families who were not included in the regular Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

He added this program provides assistance to street dwellers, indigenous families and disaster-affected households, which are not limited to education and health grants, but also includes safe and responsive housing assistance with access to SSI for the improvement of their living conditions. — GA (FREEMAN)