‘Sa Lungsod ng Biñan, mamamayan ay naaalagaan.”
Once again, the city government of Biñan, Laguna led by Mayor Arman Dimaguila distinguished itself as one of the country’s top-performing local government units at the recent “Pagkilala sa Natatanging Kontribusyon (PaNata Ko) sa Bayan Awards” of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Calabarzon.
Mayor Dimaguila and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Olay Casbadillo received a total of seven recognitions during the PaNata Ko sa Bayan Awarding Ceremony held last March 11 in Paranaque City.
These awards include the Gapas sa Paglilingkod sa Sambayanan (GAPAS) Model LGU Implementing Protective Programs and Service; Gawad Ulat (Most DWSD-Supportive Radio Station); Special Award Categories for LGU Implementing SWD Laws (Most Comprehensive Report and Good Practice Award); and Protective Programs and Services (Model LGU Implementing Social Supplementary Feeding Program, Model LGU Implementing Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, and Model LGU Implementing Persons with Disability Office).
Effective implementation
“Sa totoo lang po, hindi naman po talaga natin priority na mabigyan ng nasabing mga award. Nagkataon lang po na tayo po talaga ay nagdedeliver ng mga programa at serbisyo na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga Biñanense,” was how Casbadillo explained it in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
The CSWDO head emphasized that the main goal of the social welfare programs spearheaded by their office is to implement relevant laws as well as to fill the needs of Biñanenses, particularly among low-income families and vulnerable sectors.
“Hindi sapat na mag-iimplement lang tayo ng mga batas at mga programa ng DSWD. Dito sa lungsod ng Biñan, ang task namin sa CSWDO ay maghanap ng paraan kung paano natin maipapatupad nang mas effective at maayos ang naturang mga programa,” Casbadillo added.
One such program where the city government went above and beyond in its implementation, she recounted, was the much-publicized local pension program for Biñan’s senior citizens.
“Dahil alam naman natin na limitado lamang ang kayang ibigay ng national government para sa ating mga senior citizen, lalo na pagdating sa pondo, diyan po naisip ng ating mga local official na maghanap ng paraan para mapunan ang pangangailangan ng ating mga senior na hindi sasansalain ang batas,” Casbadillo explained.
Services for PWDs
Another program that the CSWDO prides itself upon, Casbadillo continued, is the creation of the Persons with Disability Office PWDO) that not only ensures the welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs) but also gives them more opportunities to contribute to society despite their handicaps.
“Sa ibang mga lugar, sapat na na i-register yung mga PWD at mabigyan ng PWD card. Pero sa Biñan City, naghanap pa kami ng mga programa na alam naming mapapakinabangan nila,” she related.
Among other programs, the CSWDO created the Biñan City Development Center (BCDC) for children with special needs, which Casbadillo said prepares them to become less dependent on their guardians and lead a full life despite their limitations.
“Sa BCDC, tinutulungan po natin ang mga children with special needs ng mga basic life skills, nang sa gayon, sa sandali man po na tumanda na sila o mawala na yung mga nag-aalaga sa kanila, mas may capabilities na po sila na mabuhay nang hindi laging umaasa sa iba,” she explained.
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