DSWD-7 opens "Panaghiusa Festival"
The Department of Social Welfare and Development will hold the “3rd Panaghiusa Festival” to celebrate the success of all its projects.
The festival, which runs from December 6 to 8 at the Ayala Center Cebu, aims to showcase the positive impact to the lives of the beneficiaries of the various programs of DSWD.
“Aside from DSWD internal convergence, DSWD recognizes the contribution of various partners and stakeholders like other national government agencies. We have been to various places in the region just to reach out many people and this festival will culminate the year-long information caravan of the agency,” said DSWD-7 Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre.
Currently, the DSWD categorizes its many programs into two — promotive and protective.
Promotive programs include Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services- National Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI-CIDSS) and the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
The protective programs on the other hand include the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA), Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Adoption, and Foster Care, among others.
Several activities have been lined up for this year’s festival like the SLP job fair, festival parade, opening salvo, trade exhibit, information caravan, the state of the region address (SORA), and the awarding ceremony of the different promotive programs.
SLP beneficiaries from the four provinces of Central Visayas now have the opportunity to showcase their homemade products.
The trade exhibit will feature SLP products from Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor that are locally made and for sale at the rotunda of Ayala Center.
“The Sustainable Livelihood Program is the avenue on where we help our clients by equipping them with skills so that they can get employed as well the filing their required documents needed by their prospective employers and for those not able to find employment, we lend them capital for them to start their own business,” Macapobre said.
One of the exhibits from Negros Oriental displayed a wide variety of merchandise like bags made out of the pandan leaves and handwoven wallets, seaweed crackers and sunhats as well.
“This exhibit does not only serve as our livelihood, but it also an avenue to the people who are skilled in weaving to further enhance their skills. We are just grateful for the opportunity,” said Veda Raunillo, an exhibitor from Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.