As part of the celebration of Women’s Month this March, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) commends Filipino women who continue to serve in the implementation of capacity building and social welfare programs to empower and uplift the condition of poor Filipinos.
“Pinatunayan ng mga kababaihan na malaki ang ginagampanan nilang papel sa ating lipunan. Hindi lamang sa pangangasiwa ng pamamahay at pag-aaruga ng mga anak, natatangi ang kanilang partisipasyon sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa (Filipino women have already proved that they have a significant contribution to our society not only in managing of households and caring for our children. They hold a distinct participation in the development of our nation),” said DSWD Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Emmanuel A. Leyco.
“Dito sa DSWD, malaking bahagi ng lakas at katatagan ng ahensya ay mula sa lakas din ng aming mga kababaihang opisyales at kawani na masipag at maayos na nagpapatupad ng mga programa at serbisyo. Katuwang sila ng mga kalalakihang kawani sa pagtulong sa mga kababayan nating nasalanta ng bagyo at kalamidad. Nagsasawagawa din sila ng assessment sa mga kliyente, pag-aaruga sa mga pasyenteng nakatira sa mga centers at institutions, at paghahatid ng tulong sa mga malalayong baryo at sitio ng bansa (Here in the DSWD, half of our strength comes from our women employees who continue to provide support in the implementation of our programs which include disaster response operations, assessment of clients, provision of care for patients in centers and institutions, and provision of assistance to hard-to-reach barangays and sitios around the country),” the OIC said.
The OIC also hailed the active participation of women partner-beneficiaries and volunteers who continue to strive to empower themselves and other members of their community to become productive members of society.
“We consider women-volunteers and partner-beneficiaries as our partners in implementing programs and in nation building. The DSWD will not be able to successfully implement its programs and services without the volunteers and parent-leaders who play a crucial role in community development affairs and in advocacy building,” said OIC Leyco.
Women volunteerism
Among the DSWD programs that give due recognition to women volunteers is the community capacity building program, the Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).
As of January 2018, there are 496,467 women-volunteers nationwide who work in the implementation and construction of KALAHI-CIDSS community projects.
Among them is Thelma Eliseo Villagracia, a 60-year-old active volunteer and mother of five from Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del Norte.
“Gikan ko sa yano nga pamilya ug simple lang ang among panginabuhi. Tong niabot ang Kalahi-CIDSS sa among munisipyo, nahimo kong leader bisan sa ubos nako nga kahimtang. Naghatag og oportunidad ang programa sa ako ug ako kining kinasing kasing nga gidawat kay kabalo ko nga dako kini og maikatabang sa among komunidad (I come from a poor family, leading a simple life. When Kalahi-CIDSS entered our town, I became a leader. The program provided an opportunity which I sincerely accepted because I know it would greatly help my community).”
When Kalahi-CIDSS came to B.E. Dujali in 2015, she led the Operations and Maintenance of the KALAHI-CIDSS Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) in their area. She considers her tasks in Kalahi-CIDSS as often difficult, but exceedingly rewarding.
“Before, people in our community were doubtful when it came to the ability of women to lead the management of community projects. The different tasks in Kalahi-CIDSS like canvassing, budgeting, sub-project monitoring, negotiating with suppliers, and most of all, overseeing the implementation of the sub-project were deemed as a man’s job,” Villagracia recalled.
Strive for change
Feeling the need to disprove the archaic idea that women were only good at managing households, Villagracia strived to complete her high school education through Alternative Learning System (ALS) and passed the National Acceleration and Equivalency Test at the age of 47.
She also attended various workshops, trainings and advocacy work to empower women in their community and encourage them to become active participants in community building.
“Ang pagsulong sa karapatan ug partisipasyon sa mga kababainhan kaniadto kay lisud sa among komunidad. Pero sa pagsulod sa Kalahi-CIDSS sa among munisipyo, na-awhag ang mga tao hilabi na ang mga kababainhan nga mu-partisipar. Nadungagan ang akong kadasig nga akong pakusgan ang ilahang partisipasyon (In the past, it was difficult to advance women rights and participation. It was during the implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS that people especially women were mobilized to participate. And I was more inspired to strengthen their participation),” said Villagracia.
“To be honest, pushing for women’s rights and participation in our community was not easy, but when Kalahi-CIDSS entered our municipality, women were encouraged and they felt they wanted to also do something to raise their morale. I too did my best to convince them to participate,” Villagracia added.
Empowering women
Because of her remarkable deeds to help empower women in their community, Villagracia was honored as one of the Best Volunteers under the Gender and Development Category in the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS 3rd National Bayani Ka! Awards last 2017.
Apart from being a volunteer, Villagracia also heads Dagyaw (bayanihan) and the Sagip-Ilog, Sagip-Buhay project, an awareness-raising campaign on environment and disaster preparedness in their community.
She looks forward to continue to empower women to become instruments of change and development so that more members of her community can help in building a better nation for future Filipino children.
“Usa ka pribilehiyo ang magsilbi sa katawhan. Usa ka dakong karangalan ang mahimong isa sa mga instrumento sa pagbag-o sa kababainhan aron matukod ang mga proyekto ubos sa Kalahi-CIDSS (It is a privilege to serve the people. It is a great honor to be one of the instruments in empowering women, enabling them establish projects under Kalahi-CIDSS),” Villagracia ended. ###
