DSWD-12 turns to social media to reach more clientss

KORONADAL CITY- For easy gathering of stories of positive change from government programbeneficiaries, workers and other stakeholders, a government agency have started utilizing the social networking sites. The Department of Social Welfare and the Development (DSWD) in REGION 12through its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps)program simultaneously launched the official facebook and twitter accounts of their Kaya ko Pagbabago” campaign Thursday. Aside from sharing their thoughts on the implementation of DSWD’s programs, especially the conditional cash transfer (CCT), people can now post their anecdotes, statements, blogs, photos, and videos, that shows the positive effect of 4Ps to its benefeciaries in their facebook page and//www.fb.com/KayaKoPH www.fb.com/KayaKoPH and the twitter account KayaKoPH. The social welfare department resorted to social media to counter the disapproval of some sectors on their anti-poverty programs. Bai Zorahayda Taha, DSWD 12 Regional Director ,said what they usually hear about their programs are criticisms from people who lack understanding of the implementation. We hope to bring out the benefits of the program, as manifested by these stories of change with this campaign,” Taha said in a press statement. Monera Lidasan, DSWD 12 Assistant Regional Director for Administration, led the launching of the program in Koronadal City. Since DSWD 12 employees are not allowed to used social networking sites during office hours, information technology (IT) experts are task to monitor their official facebook and twitter accounts. We have an information group that are allowed to open our facebook and twitter accounts, but we don not allow our staff to have access on social networking sites, you know we are working, but we already have a measure, we have personnel to focus on these,” Lidasan told DXOM FM Friday. To reach students and school aged children that compose a large pie of internet users, the social welfare department is planning to bring the campaign to schools. We are now closely coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) which is also very supportive of our program, Jeffrey Maitem, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program focal person said.