Small scale farmers and fishermen in the city received assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Cash for Training/Cash for Work Program, a short-term intervention by the National Government under the Rice Subsidy Program.

18 initial beneficiaries from Barangays Malanday, Malinta, Veinte reales and Bignay which were determined by the DSWD Central Office started training and working under the program which aims to help them tide over the off season, especially during the onset of typhoons, and to help them get by the increasing prices of commodities.

Beneficiaries receive PhP 367 per day for four days training on disaster preparedness, livelihood and waste management; and seven (7) days three (3) hours community service dredging canals and drainages, and getting rid of weeds and grasses in certain areas as determined by their respective Punong Barangays.

“Ina-asess namin ang lugar para malaman kung ano ang mas kapaki-pakinabang na gawain para sa kanilang komunidad.  Sa susunod na linggo naman, sa pakikipagtulungan ng City Agriculture Office ay magsasagawa sila ng tree-planting sa Barangay Bignay at Pasolo, at sa Bignay National High School.  (We assess the neighborhood to determine which work can become appropriate and useful to the community.  Next week, in partnership with the City Agriculture Office, they are scheduled to plant trees in barangays Bignay and Pasolo, and Bignay National High School.)” Mr. Arnel Tiburcio, program coordinator for the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

The program has a total of PhP 67.57 million budget for its implementation nationwide. The cash assistance for the beneficiaries is based on the daily minimum wage in their respective region.

According to the DSWD implementation guidelines, the program aims to generate temporary employment and to provide income augmentation to small-scale farmers and fisher folks; and to encourage community participation in implementing community-defined projects and prepare them for emergency, hunger mitigation and food security initiatives.

Recipients nationwide were identified through the DSWD National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) survey which also serves as the basis for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Social Pension programs.

Ms. Jonette Cajes, DSWD program beneficiary targeting Area Coordinator cleared out that only small fishermen can qualified for the program.  “Fish vendors, batillos and big ship fishermen not included, though some of them have been previously included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The Valenzuelano beneficiaries are among the first to benefit from the program in the National Capital Region (NCR), along with beneficiaries in the Cities of Malabon and Navotas.  Cajes added that the program is in its trial phase, “Kapag naging successful ang programa sa mga naunang beneficiaries, magkakaroon pa ng mga kasunod.  (If the program was deemed successful and beneficial with the first batch, it shall continue.)” she said.

The program requires beneficiaries to spend at least 50% of their earnings on rice and other food items.  Mrs. Madeline Impas, a beneficiary farmer from Barangay Bignay said, “Malaking tulong ang programa sa amin lalo pa at panahon ngayon ng gastos sa eskwela.  (The program is a timely assistance to our family, especially now that we have spent money for the schooling needs of our children.)”

Malanday Punong Barangay Fortunato Aravilla and Bignay Punong Barangay Mary Ann Victoriano witnessed the cash transfer in their respective barangays facilitated by personnel of DSWD-NCR.

- Lauro Zyan F. Caiña (06-21-2011)