RECOGNIZING its efforts of empowering communities through green initiatives, the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Davao recognized Mati City as Gawad Paglilingkod sa Sambayanan Awardee as Model Implementing Pantawid Pamilya Program in the province of Davao Oriental.

The award was received by Mati City Vice Mayor Glenda Rabat Gayta and Executive Assistant to the Local Chief Executive Tanya R. Tan during the DSWD 67th Anniversary on February 27.

The awarding ceremony was led by DSWD Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat.

"This award is a milestone that reflects the synergy of all stakeholders and the government working together to achieve the change that directly impacts the lives of Matinian families. Our gratitude to DSWD in recognizing our efforts and for the Matinians who believed and embraced this advocacy. May this continue as a legacy in creating positive option for the next generation," Gayta said in a statement.

Gayta said that last July 26, 2017, a Specific Implementation Agreement for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) was signed between DSWD-Davao and Mati City to create a meaningful engagement and participation to the 7,000 4Ps partners.

"One of the agreements is to adopt the Green Communities Program as brand for backyard gardening among Pantawid Pamilya Program partners in the 26 barangays. This includes, following the criteria of Green Communities Programs success indicators in the monitoring and evaluation," she added.

She said the GreenCom Program, in collaboration with the Davao Oriental State University, gives emphasis on the social preparation aspect of program implementation focusing on community immersion as a means to institute positive change in the attitude and character formation of partners to ensure sustainability and strengthen local government unit interventions to establish investment ready households.