PRIORITIZING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S WELFARE/SOCIAL WELFARE

Provisions of basic services such as health, food and nutrition, education,  housing, and livelihood opportunities for the welfare of the Indigenous People were given priority by the provincial government through the conduct of food for work programs, distribution of agricultural seeds and farming tools, conduct of medical/dental missions, conduct of consultants with IP elders/leaders, inclussion of IP representative in the provincial government, and provision of medical assistance to the indigent individuals.families under the Action for the Care and Development of the Poor (ACAP).

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office with its mandate to promote, protect, and preserve the welfare and rights of vulnerable sectors such as Senior Citizens (SCs), Persons with Dissability (PWDs), children, youth, women, and other vulnerable/distressed individual; had implemented projects and activities to address the concerns and needs of the said sectors.

For the Senior Citizen’s Sector the said office conducted quarterly meetings with Senior Citizens Associations in the Provinnce, organized medical mission, provided assistive devised such as wheel chairs, provided financial assistance, and provided can incentives to SC age 70, 75, 80 as per SP Resolution No. 85.

On Persons with Dissability Sector, they also conducted quarterly meeting with the Provincial Federation of Parents/Gueardians of Children with Disability, organized medical mission for psychiatrically and Neurologically challenged individuals, provided assistive devices such as customized wheel chairs, provided educational support for children with dissability thru CORD Foundation and Community-Based Rehabilitation Centers, initiated the creation of Persons with Dissability Affairs Office thru Ordinance No. 11 Special Order No. 2019-03, provided monthly honorarium to the officers of Provincial Federation of WDs, and conducted livelihood training in collaboration with TESDA.

For the Children and Youth Sector, they conducted Youth Summit, conducted various symposia and trainings relative to children and youth welfare and development, and conducted assessment and accreditation of LGU ECCD programs (center-based and home-based).

The office also participated in E-CLIP and ELCAC activities, provided administrative and logistices assistance to rebel returnees, and facilitated the awarding of E-CLIP benefits from OPPAP and DILG.

The PSWDO also continued to implement the Aid to individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Program wherein indigents were given financial assistance for, but not limited to, burial services/expenses, medicines, laboratory fees and transportation expenses. A total of seven hundred  four (&)$) persons availed the said assistance, 482 of which were for medical purposes and 219 were for burial expenses.