DSWD pays tribute to partners through PaNata Awards

“The awards are the department’s way of thanking the various groups and individuals who help the DSWD implement its mandate to serve the Filipino people, not only during calamities and emergencies, but also during the course of their daily lives as they seek to improve the lives of their children and their families,” Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said in her speech during the ceremony, held at the DSWD central office. (Photo: DSWD Sec. Judy M. Taguiwalo/ Facebook)

MANILA –The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday presented the “Pagkilala sa Natatanging Kontribusyon sa Bayan” (PaNata Ko sa Bayan) Awards to various partners as one of the highlights of the department’s 66th anniversary celebration.

“The awards are the department’s way of thanking the various groups and individuals who help the DSWD implement its mandate to serve the Filipino people, not only during calamities and emergencies, but also during the course of their daily lives as they seek to improve the lives of their children and their families,” Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said in her speech during the ceremony, held at the DSWD central office.

Given the department’s tremendous responsibility –from providing aid to victims of calamities to managing the conditional cash transfer program, running centers for abandoned and abused people, and extending funeral and burial assistance –the DSWD needs the help of partners to work with them side by side, said Taguiwalo.

“We will not be able to accomplish all that we need to do for our beneficiaries without the help and support of our various partners. We hold the annual PaNata awards to thank them and to give tribute to their efforts to help Filipinos improve their lives,” she said.

For his part, Assistant Secretary Anton Hernandez, chairperson of the PaNata Awards, said he hopes the awards would inspire the awardees and other individuals and organizations to help provide assistance to the needy.

The awards consisted of the Salamat Po Award, Gawad sa Makabagong Teknolohiyang Panlipunan, GAPAS (Gawad Paglilingkod sa Sambayanan) Award, Gawad Listahanan Award, and Gawad Serbisyo Award.

The Salamat Po award was presented to Julie Taniongan, a PWD from Western Visayas; the Cabanatuan CSWDO Day Care Federation; Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc.; Kabisig ng Kalahi; PhilSeven Foundation; Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation; A Child’s Trust is Ours to Nurture (ACTION) Inc.; and International Justice Mission. A number of international organizations were also recognized, among them the World Bank, UNICEF and Asian Development Bank.

Meanwhile, the GAPAS Award was presented to local government units with highly commendable best practices that are worth replicating; and the Gawad sa Makabagong Teknolohiyang Panlipunan to the Integrated Community Action towards Recovery and Empowerment for Children and Youth Victims of Illegal Drugs (I CARE) of Bacuag, Surigao del Norte.