Guidelines for Pilot Implementation of Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program for Indigenous Peoples in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas

September 1, 2014

DSWD MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 019-14

 

I. Rationale

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, in fulfillment of its mandate of providing social services to the disadvantaged and marginalized sectors of the society like the Indigenous People (IP), executed MC 01, Series of 2009 or the Indigenous Peoples Policy Framework (IPPF). The IPPF was formulated to serve as a "declaration of policies and standard procedures in developing, funding and implementing programs, projects and services for indiofficer of the the subsidiariesgenous peoples".

Adopting the IPPF within the context of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program, a special project under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, entails more challenge in reviewing and reforming program policies which would work in favor of the indigenous people entirely. It can be seen that while the State attempts to enforce developmental projects, there is a growing resistance on the part of the IP communities because they are still governed by their own indigenous institutions and they struggle to preserve their customary laws and traditions. The September 2012 Mid Term Review of the SWDRP illustrates an actuality that while CCT Program may have been successful in reaching the IPs, outward feeling of dissatisfaction on the program implementation remains.

Some indigenous people who have joined and experienced the program see the membership advantage in the process. However, for many indigenous people, they have done more than enough to cope or comply with the conditions making it difficult for them to appreciate the program, considering that they are in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA). The physical conditions of the IP communities confine them in not accessing the basic services of the government. Moreover, this is because of the inappropriateness of the program policies which brought more conflict in the implementation than resolution to the significant issues confronting them. AIDSTE

To provide for a meaningful participation in the program, the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program conceptualizes the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for the Indigenous Peoples in GIDAs, which is more culturally responsive in improving IPs' access to basic social services such as health, nutrition and sanitation, and to formal and non-formal education.

This shall be substantially distinct from the usual program that is presently being provided since there is modification in terms of targeting, process of implementation, package of services and the indigenous peoples are involved in identifying, formulating, and planning developmental strategies to be employed in the program implementation. It works within the policy context of the IPRA and the three main goals articulated in the IPPF: (1) Empowerment of the IP; (2) Promotion of the IP rights; and (3) Protection from any unavoidable adverse effects caused by the development process. Central to the advancement of IP rights, the MCCT for IP in GIDAs shall serve as a social protection intervention helping the indigenous people identify their own development needs while investing in human capital to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty.

II. Legal Basis

Indigenous Peoples Right Act declares the duty of the State: "To recognize and promote all the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) within the framework of national unity and development." and "to recognize, respect and protect the rights of ICCs/IPs to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions and institutions. It shall consider these rights in the formulation of national laws and policies."

National Indigenous Peoples Education Policy Framework ensures the provision of universal and equitable access of all IPs to quality and relevant basic education services towards functional literacy for all. It also provides for adequate and culturally-appropriate learning resources and environment to IP learners. The framework subscribes to the rights-based approach which gives primary importance to the principles of participation, inclusion, and empowerment. This is an important measure in achieving the country's Education for All (EFA) commitments and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). (DepEd Administrative Order 62 s. 2011). It permit to Operate Primary Schools for Indigenous Peoples and Cultural Communities" (DepEd Order No. 42 s. 2004). Likewise, the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Curriculum for Indigenous Peoples Education (DepEd Order No. 101 s. 2010).

Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2913-01 — also known as "Guidelines on the Delivery of Basic Health Services for Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous People," sets the guidelines that will address access, utilization, coverage, and equity issues in the provision of basic health care services for ICCs/IPs to achieve better health outcomes.

Universal Health Care (UHC)/Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP) (AO 2010-0036) — aims to improve, streamline and scale-up previous health reform strategies in order to address inequities in health outcomes by ensuring that all Filipinos, especially those belonging to the lowest income quintiles, have equitable access to health care.

Indigenous People's Participation Framework (IPRA) supplies a significant policy stimulus in providing a forum for the full and meaningful participation of the IPs in the development of the MCCT for IP in GIDA program. The process began with a participatory review of IPs experiences under the regular CCT where they identified and analyzed the bottlenecks and barriers that hinder them from accessing the benefits of the program.

This guideline was conceptualized and developed based on IPs experiences, distinctions and recommendations that is tailored fit within their culture and norms.

III. Objectives

General: Assists the Indigenous People to have full and sustained access to the government's social protection services particularly the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program through Modified CCT for IP in GIDA.

More specifically, the program aims:

1. To create and operationalize a programming process that engages the full and meaningful participation of beneficiary IP households in the context of their indigenous cultural communities

2. To facilitate the establishment of an accessible and suitable health care delivery system responsive to the specific conditions of IP children, pregnant and lactating mother

3. To formulate community development projects for the immediate and continuing improvement of the economic and social conditions of the IPs and ICCs specifically in the areas of employment, training, sanitation and security in the spirit of convergence of services

4. To facilitate the development of an accessible and alternative mode of learning relevant and appropriate to the specific necessities and situation of children and to keep those who are already in formal schools AaCTcI

5. To develop and implement IP sensitive program systems (i.e., Grievance Redress System (GRS), Beneficiary Data Management System (BDMD), and Compliance Verification System (CVS) that effectively and appropriately addresses the specific concerns of the IP households

6. To initiate and integrate within the indigenous structure a sustained participatory monitoring, evaluation and reporting process

IV. Project Description

The Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Indigenous Peoples Program in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas will be pilot tested in 16 Regions for two years. This program aimed to provide equal opportunities to indigenous cultural communities in accessing the services and benefits of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. The program is founded on full recognition of the participation rights of IPs to ensure the quality of services that are responsive and appropriate to the needs and desires of these communities. The strategy is CCT but with modifications in terms of processes in targeting, conditionalities, package of benefits, interventions and modes of implementation.

The program, therefore, will regard the IP communities not just mere passive recipients or beneficiaries but as active partners in development.

The MCCT for IP will employ holistic approach of community organizing to achieve cultural empowerment so that the basic services delivered can be a mechanism to sustain cultural integrity. To utilize the maximum participation of the Indigenous People, this guideline is issued for the Field Offices and other key players to implement the MCCT for IP in GIDA.

V. Scope and Delimitation

A. Duration:

The project will be pilot tested in selected GIDAs for a period of two years.

B. Area coverage

The selection of pilot IP communities in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) and other relevant areas for the implementation of the program shall be facilitated by the DSWD Regional Field Offices in consultation with Tribal Leaders, Local Government Units and Civil Society Organizations. The following are the criteria in the selection of target areas in sixteen (16) Regions:

Indigenous people in GIDA particularly those with:

• no or limited opportunities for development

• no or limited access to social services;

• no access road or hard to reach areas

• Insufficiency of food security

C. Target Households

1. Indigenous peoples living outside or inside their ancestral domains particularly those with no or limited access to social services

2. IP families with children aged 0-18 years old and/or with pregnant member of the family at the time of selection.

3. IPs who are vulnerable and disadvantaged based on the assessment done by the community facilitators.

VI. Definition of Terms

1. Indigenous Peoples — refers to group of people or homogenous society identified by self-ascription and ascription of others who have continuously lived as organized community or communally bounded and defined territory, and who have under claims of ownership, since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized such territories, sharing common bonds of language, through resistance to political, social, cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically differentiated from the majority of the Filipinos. (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997).

2. Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) — refer to communities with marginalized population physically and socio-economically separated from the mainstream society and characterized by absence of access to roads or reside in hard to reach areas, absence of or limited opportunity for development, absence of or limited areas to social services, particularly health and education, insufficiency of food security, limiting environment such, but not limited to, discriminatory policies, norms, and situations that inhibit the full exercise of their rights.

3. Beneficiaries — refers to poor households with children aged 0 to below 18 years old, or pregnant women living together, who choose to be part of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and who agree to comply with the conditions by the program.

4. Grantee — refers to the mother or the most responsible adult member of the households authorized to withdraw or receive the grants. EcTCAD

5. Household — refers to a social unit consisting of a person living alone or a group of persons who sleep in the same housing unit and have a common arrangement for the preparation and consumption of food.

6. Poor — refers to individuals and families whose income fall below the poverty threshold as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority and who cannot afford to provide their minimum basic needs of foods, health, education, housing and other essential amenities of life. (RA 8425 or Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act).

7. Potential beneficiaries — refers to households whose total family income is equal to or below the poverty threshold of the province based on the National Household Targeting System.

8. Registered Household — refers to the household beneficiaries enrolled in the program and are receiving cash grants.

9. Registration of Eligible Households — refers to the process by which an eligible household-beneficiary, as identified by the NHTS-PR as being below the poverty threshold of the area of residence, and having undergone the Eligibility Check Routine (ECR) I & II, was selected to be listed as an eligible household for a particular set, is enrolled into the program.

10. Parent Leaders — refers to the person selected by the household grantees living within the same neighborhood to lead the group and to serve as point person for different program concerns.

11. Grant — refers to the amount intended to household beneficiaries of the program in exchange for fulfilling their co-responsibilities.

12. Conditionalities — refers to a set of responsibilities or obligations that the household beneficiaries/grantee must comply with it, in order to receive cash grant based on the prescribe timeline or as monitored.

13. Supply Side — refers to the facilities such as schools and health centers in a specific area that are necessary for beneficiaries to comply with their co-responsibilities.

14. Timeline — a time frame during which activities must be carried out.

15. Monitored beneficiaries — refer to identified beneficiaries with pregnant women members and children 0-18 years old (3-18 years old children who are attending day care/school) who shall receive P500.00 as health and nutrition grants and P300.00 per child for elementary and P500 per child in high school as education grant monthly.

16. Monitored compliance — refer to beneficiaries' compliance with program conditions on health, education and community/family development session as verified through the Compliance Verification System to sustain receiving cash grants.

17. Alternative Delivery Mode — is a substitute technique for the Department of Education to address the challenges of formal education. This alternative modality is done within the confines of formal education system that allows schools to deliver education to marginalized students and those at risk of dropping out in order to help them overcome, personal, social and economic constraints in schooling.

18. Alternative learning System — refers to an educational method beyond the conventional means where children are provided with modular lessons accredited by the Department of Education but delivered in a different setting and following a schedule suitable to the students.

19. Community Assembly — refers to a gathering of potential beneficiaries of the MCCT for IP wherein the program is explained and where the potential beneficiaries undergo a process of registration, validation and enrollment of eligible beneficiaries.

20. Convergence — refers to a strategy of coordinating and integrating the package of services of DOH, DepEd and DSWD to improve the quality of life of the poor.

21. Eligibility Check — refers to the process of validating the poor households identified by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) to determine those who meet the program criteria.

22. Eligible household — refers to the poor household with children 0-18 years old or pregnant mothers at the time of the enumeration. They are qualified beneficiaries of the program but are not yet registered or enrolled in the program.

23. Grievance — refers to the complaints, issues and concerns in relation to program implementation.

VII. Program Components

A. Program Package

1. Cash Grants

 The MCCT for IP in GIDA Program will adapt the regular CCT cash grant. Each household shall be entitled to receive P500 per month per household for health and education grant amounting to P300 per child/month for elementary and P500 per child/month for High School. The cash grant for education shall be a maximum of 3 children per household per month for 10 months per year. HSAcaE

 These grants are released on a regular basis as established by the National Project Management Office to beneficiary household for the duration of their participation in the program, subject to their compliance to conditionalities.

 For the initial release of the grants (1st Payment/for the first 3 months), the program does not require a compliance-based computation of grants. The first payment will serve as the initial investment of the family to health and education of children in preparation to the compliance-based monitoring of grants release.

 Parents will decide who the grant recipient will be if both are still alive. If any of the spouses is no longer part of the household, the remaining spouse will automatically become the household grantee. If both parents are away for whatever reason, either of the grandparents or current caregiver can be the household grantee; subject to verification, endorsement, and monitoring by the city/municipal social worker.

a. Education Package

 The program's education package for children includes the following services:

• Support for children's enrolment and attendance in public elementary and secondary schools which include documentary requirements for enrolment

• Establishment of home-based ECCD Program, Supervised Neighborhood Play or any appropriate ECCD delivery mode for 3-5 year old children.

• In the absence of school facilities, the community facilitators in coordination with other key players will ensure availability of community based para-teachers.

• Support for enrolment of 1 adult family member in Technical-Vocational School for a maximum of 2-years (relevant to the development need of the community)

• Establishment of Alternative Learning System or Alternative Delivery Modes of education in the IP communities with IP coordinators or IP-sensitive coordinators and

• Inclusion of Madrasah, and Arabic literacy and schools of living tradition.

b. Health package

 The program's health package for pregnant mothers, children, and the community includes the following services:

• Antenatal care which includes tetanus toxoid vaccination; folic acid, iron and vitamin A supplementation; and, nutrition counseling

• Delivery and postpartum care which include essential obstetric care with skilled births attendants, referral system for emergency obstetric care as needed, newborn care and support for exclusive breastfeeding

• Preventive care for infants and young children including full immunization, regular growth monitoring, nutrition counseling, prevention of diarrhea and other childhood diseases, home-based child care

• Prevention, control, and cure of communicable and lifestyle-related diseases including relevant lectures, essential medicines, and appropriate behavior change communication materials

• Subsidized PhilHealth Membership (Zero-Balance Billing)

• Support for skilled delivery at home or in birthing facilities in the community

• Access to reproductive health services, appropriate family planning methods

• Free birth registration, death certificate, and marriage certification

• In the absence of health facility, the community facilitator in coordination with other key players will ensure availability of para-medics.

c. Community and Family Development Sessions (CFDS)

 CFDS is a regular community and family gathering where the community members participate in the discussion of topics and issues of interest to the community, and is usually moderated by a trained CFDS facilitator together with an external or local resource person. The sessions use thematic modules prepared by the Family Development Unit of the National Program Management Office, based on suggested agenda from tribal leaders. AcICHD

 The CFDS provides a forum designed to enhance the skills of parents and caregivers in effective and responsible parenting. It is also the venue where the community members discuss key issues and concerns, and agree on actions to address the same.

 On top of topics related to maternal and child care and other parenting issues, CFDS will also cover the following:

• Indigenous Peoples' Right Act

• Human rights and related laws and policies

• Children's rights and women's rights

• Ancestral Domain Sustainability Development and Protection Plan

• Climate change/environmental care and protection

• Alternative livelihood skills enhancement

• Disaster risk reduction management

• Child rights and child protection concerns

• Gender sensitivity

• Program implementation gaps and issues

 The CFDS will be conducted with full respect for the IP's traditional practices, customary laws, systems, and practices in the community, and in a language that they understand. The sessions will be held in a venue accessible to the majority of the people, and on a schedule that is acceptable and suitable to their rhythm of life. There will be appropriate provisions for children who will tag along with their parents.

 The CFDS grant will be subsumed under the health grant.

2. Support Services Interventions

 The program will support other interventions based on the need and assessment of the community facilitator to achieve the goal of the MCCT for IP program specifically along health, sanitation, education, livelihood activities, capability building training, promotion of IP rights, or any collective engagement that will enhance self-determination. This will include studies and researches that will document and preserve existing IKSP. In accordance to the NCIP Guidelines on research and documentation, ownership on the documented IKSPs will be credited to the IPs communities where the information/data were derived as part of their intellectual property rights.

 The program will provide technical assistance in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation to enable the IP communities to manage their own projects. The program will provide additional cash or incentives in kind to the ICCs for full compliance with the program conditions. These incentives may be used for community-initiated projects or for any communal income-generating activities. The program will link the ICCs with potential sources of support such as the civil society organizations, other government agencies, non-government organizations, and other donor agencies.

B. Program Conditionalities

To continuously receive the program package and cash benefits, the IP beneficiaries need to comply with the following conditions/commitment. The method of implementation and monitoring of the beneficiaries' compliance will be defined in consultation with ICCs and with guidance from DepEd and DOH.

1. On Education

• Compliance verification to education to each child beneficiary already enrolled in school commences on the fourth month from the date of registration.

• Compliance verification to education to each child beneficiary NOT enrolled in school commences on the fourth month from the date of registration.

• 85% attendance of all IP children and adults enrolled in elementary and high schools, including in ALS and ADM. (to be consulted with DepEd)

• 85% attendance of all 3-5 years old IP children in Day Care or home-based ECCD Programs.

2. On Health

• Compliance verification to health commences on the seventh month from the date of registration

• Regular health status monitoring of pregnant and lactating women

• Full immunization for children and pregnant women

• Deworming (traditional deworming methods are accepted as approved by DOH)

• Pre- and post-natal care

• Delivery in birthing facilities/attended by a skilled/professional TAIaHE

3. On Attending CFDS

• The only conditionality during the social preparation stage (4th to 6th month) is attendance and participation in the Community Family Development Sessions (CFDS)

• Attendance to CFDS twice a month for the first 6 months

• During the social preparation period, attendance of any family member (mother, father, or other adult members of the family) in the discussions and/or consultations shall be sufficient compliance to the CFDS.

 Summary:

• First three months : non-compliance-based 4th to 6th month : education and CFDS — compliance-based 7th month : education, health and CFDS compliance

C. Financial Management System

The Financial Management System (FMS) of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) shall be the responsibility of the Unified Financial Management Unit (UFMU) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (PP) both at the National and Regional Office levels.

Please note that a detailed financial management system will be prepared by the Pantawid MCCT-NPMO in coordination with the UFMS and potential conduits including Landbank. The said financial management system will form part of this guideline.

1. Fund Releases to target Indigenous People beneficiaries

 Fund releases shall be directly paid to the registered grantees/households. In the absence of the grantee, the authorized family member shall receive the said grants subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures.

Cash Grants

 Release of cash grants shall be on a monthly basis and shall be directly paid by Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) via LBP conduits that are accessible to the registered Indigenous People beneficiaries as approved by the DSWD-LBP Regional Action Center.

1. Process and procedures on the preparation of Notice of Approved Payroll Allocation shall be based on the MCCT developed timeline and usual UFMS procedures.

2. Payment of Grants to Beneficiaries (First release)

 For the initial release of cash grants, the list of registered beneficiaries shall be the basis for the preparation of the cash grants.

 Coordination and Actual Pay-out — Based on the existing guidelines of Pantawid Pamilya Filipino Program.

3. Succeeding Releases

 The procedures for the succeeding releases of cash grants is the same as above except that the computation of cash grants shall be based on the list of beneficiaries who are compliant to the conditions of the program e.g., (Community/Family Development Sessions (FDS), health and education).

2. Allocation for implementation cost

 There shall be two types of Delivery Mechanisms that shall be adopted for the implementation of the MCCT, namely: 1) Civil Society Organizations (CSO) run implementation, and 2) DSWD-managed implementation.

a. Civil Society Organization run

• The engagement of CSO shall be covered by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) represented by its Regional Director and the CSO which shall be guided by the DSWD Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 12 series of 2014 entitled "Operational Guidelines on the DSWD-CSO Engagement for the implementation of Modified CCT."

• On the other hand, the financial regulations and procedures shall follow the provisions of indicated herein as well as the Commission on Audit (COA) Circular 2007-01 dated October 25, 2007 entitled "Revised guidelines in the granting, utilization, accounting and auditing of the funds released to Non-Governmental Organizations/People's Organizations (NGOs/POs)."

• Utilization of funds

 All funds transferred to the CSO shall retain their character as public funds, hence, its utilization shall be subject the usual government accounting and auditing rules. The funds released to the CSO shall be utilized solely for the implementation of the project as indicated in the MOA and in accordance with the approved work and financial plans. The existing related issuances of the Department as well as applicable government laws, rules and regulations on disbursement of government funds shall likewise be strictly followed. cDHAES

• Liquidation of Funds

 The CSO shall fully account all funds transferred for the implementation of the Project through submission to the DSWD FO a Liquidation Report (LR) showing summary of expenses duly signed by the CSO Accountant and approved by the Head of the CSO. The LR shall always be accompanied by a status report of accomplishment evidenced by pictures.

 All unutilized funds including interests shall be duly refunded to the DSWD FO upon submission to and acceptance by the DSWD FO of the Final Liquidation Report.

b. DSWD-Managed

 The DSWD-managed delivery mechanism shall mean direct implementation of the MCCT by the DSWD FO. The basis for fund disbursements shall be approved Work and Financial Plan of the Project and shall follow the existing FM arrangements of the Pantawid Pamilya.

VIII. Program Strategies

1. Community Organizing

The Community Organizing process will facilitate the development of a community-based system that will allow the IP Communities to have meaningful participation in the operations of the program such as the targeting and selection of program beneficiaries and validation process.

The initial results of CO process should be a collective consent of the community to proceed with the program and with a commitment to comply with assigned responsibilities, and DSWD to comply with its commitment to support the program in a sustainable manner. This collective consent may be referred to as the program's "Memorandum of Understanding".

The strategy will endeavor to organize, train and support a core group of community volunteers that will be tasked to oversee the program implementation and sustainability. The CO process will be done in close coordination and with full transparency with the barangay officials.

Please refer to the MC 06 Series of 2014: Social Preparation Guidelines on the MCCT for IP in GIDA

2. Convergence (Partnership-Building, Networking, and Coordination)

The program will establish a system of networking and partnership with other support groups and stakeholders at the municipal level to ensure convergence and coordination of services of agencies at the community and family level. Convergence will allow service providers to coordinate their activities, and focus their resources and efforts on common target families to produce synergy; avoid duplication, competition, and wastage of services; and therefore create greater impact among IP children, mothers, and the whole family.

3. Capacity-Building

This is a key strategy in improving and sustaining the quality of health and education services, and support to children and women. This strategy will ensure that the major key players particularly the service providers in the program will have the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude to implement the program, and deliver the necessary and quality basic services. This will be done in close coordination with DOH, DepEd, and Local Government Units.

This strategy will also ensure that the Tribal leaders, community volunteers of the program, including concerned Barangay Officials, will acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to effectively perform their assigned roles and responsibilities relevant to the implementation of the CCT-IP Program.

4. Quality Service Delivery

Through this strategy, the IP program beneficiaries will receive basic services in an appropriate, culturally responsive, humanizing, and sensitive manner. The service delivery system will be cost-efficient, sustainable, responsive to the needs of ICCs, and receptive to the unique characteristics of tribal groups. The educational and health services will be timely and appropriate. Coordination with partner agencies and other support groups will be set up for carrying out suitable and practical outreach services in the absence of regular education and health facilities.

5. Community-based monitoring and reporting

This strategy will involve the active participation of community leaders and key members in program monitoring to ensure that the program is proceeding according to plan and that the planned activities are undertaken according to schedule. Specifically, they will participate in trouble shooting, tracking program implementation, and monitoring of compliance of IP beneficiaries and program commitments. ASEcHI

A community-based system will be established to ensure that the implementation gaps and issues identified in the monitoring exercises will be acted as early as possible. The program will establish a reporting flow that will allow the Regions an opportunity to capture important actions and decisions at community level.

6. Participatory Research

This strategy will tap selected community members and IP leaders in identifying relevant research agenda and in carrying out the research. This will be done in consultation with the academe, and NGOs in the community. Of particular research interest will be agenda related to indigenous knowledge, skills, and attitude in health and education with EPIC from the communities, and consistent with NCIP guidelines in obtaining IKSP.

7. Policy Advocacy

The program will develop a comprehensive policy advocacy plan that will address the identified policy gaps, and law enforcement issues and concerns at national and sub-national levels. The plan will include lobbying for recognition of IKSP in health and education, and in making schools and health services accessible to IP children, women, and the whole community. It will include mobilization of Local Government Units (municipal, city and barangay) in committing policy and budgetary support to make CCT work for IPs.

8. Program Support Communication for Cultural Enhancement

The program will develop a behavior change communication plan with DOH and DepEd to ensure that the program beneficiaries will adopt appropriate health and education practices related to the achievement of program goals. The plan will use a combination of behavior change communication strategies, and instruments that will inform parents and equip them with knowledge and skills in maternal and child care, and in supporting the education needs of their children. This strategy will also target the service providers, particularly in adopting proper attitude and behavior that are sensitive to IP's unique characteristics, and their particular ways of doing things.

IX. Implementing Details

1. Pre-implementation phase

This stage of program implementation is to obtain commitment, partnership, preliminary activities prior to program implementation. These include the following activities:

1. Geographic targeting

• Identification of GIDA areas

• Program orientation and consultations to Field Offices, Local Government units and other key players

2. Civil Society Engagement

• Posting of CSO engagement

• CSO proposals and work plan submission

• Identification of beneficiaries

• Name-matching of NHTO

• Proposal review and approval of selection committee

• Contract signing and hiring of staff

• Transfer of first tranche

 Annex 1 — Social preparation process

2. Implementation Phase

a. Identification and registration are the major activities on this phase. The steps and procedures include the following:

• Validation of the name-matched results

• Beneficiary registration, signing of oath of commitment, issuance of MCCT identification cards

• Conduct of family development sessions ITAaHc

• NAPA preparation and payroll processing (non-CVS based)

• Release of first grant payment

• Grant payment (CVS based)

b. Provision of other support services

• Referrals and follow-ups (accessing of other support interventions)

• Succeeding releases of grants to the beneficiaries/succeeding releases of tranches to the CSOs

• Monitoring and evaluation/spot checks

Annex 2 — community and family development procedures

Annex 3 — convergence of services procedures

Annex 4 — policy advocacy procedures

Annex 5 — development of IP sensitive and culturally appropriate program communication material

Annex 6 — financial procedure and fund releases

Annex 7 — process flow

c. Post Implementation

 This phase is focus on program evaluation and documentation. This stage aims to review the efficiency and effectiveness of each strategy and process.

• Refer to guidelines on MCCT for IP monitoring and evaluation guidelines

X. Mode of Implementation

1. DSWD Manage — executed and managed by the Regional DSWD particularly the Regional Program Management Office (RPMO). This mode shall require the hiring of Community Facilitators (CF) and Community Facilitator Assistants (CFA) to directly implement the program in the field under the direct supervision of the MCCT Focal in collaboration with the IP and FDS Focals with oversight of the RPMO and directions from the NPMO.

2. Civil Society Organization (CSO) Run — this recognizes the presence of CSOs in Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC) whose competence and initiatives can facilitate the delivery of the MCCT for IP program services. Based on DSWD Memo Circular 12 series of 2014: Operational Guidelines on DSWD-CSO Engagement for the Implementation of Modified Conditional Cash Transfer, these CSO's can enter into formal partnership with DSWD to implement the MCCT-IP in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). Based on approved guidelines they shall be provided funds to directly implement the program in their proposed ICCs approved by the concerned DSWD Field Offices.

The CSO must be acceptable to the community and its tribal leaders. As much as possible, the CSO should not have any negative records filed by ICCs/IPs with the NCIP or other related agencies. If the community or tribal leaders express any reservation/s about working with the potential CSO partner, this should be resolved in a dialogue between and amongst the tribal leader or community and the CSO in the presence of DSWD and preferably NCIP. Considering the communication barrier that may put the IPs at a disadvantage, the IP Focal must be involved in the dialogue to help facilitate and ensure the documentation of the dialogue.

XI. Institutional Arrangement

A. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

1. Oversee and coordinate the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the program

2. Conduct supply side assessment for health and education jointly with concerned agencies

3. Facilitate the targeting and selection of project areas, and potential IP beneficiaries

4. Forge agreement with LGUs where project sites are to ensure the availability of supply side

5. Provide technical assistance to the overall operations of the CCT-IP program at the regional provincial, city/municipal levels

6. Develop and deliver IP sensitive C/FDS modules

7. Serve as repository of information and data about the program

8. Develop and implement an IP sensitive grievance redress system for the program

9. Mobilize, manage, and account for all program funds and resources

10. Prepare the Budget Operations Manual in coordination with the Departments of Budget, and Management (DBM), Finance (DOF), Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Commission on Audit (COA)

11. Coordinate and collaborate with different donor agencies to augment logistics in program implementation

B. Department of Health (DOH)

1. Ensure the implementation of DOH-NCIP-DILG Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2013-01 (Guidelines on the Delivery of Basic Health Services for Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous People) in all CCT-IP areas CHTAIc

2. Augment the logistics requirement of LGUs to enable them to address the supply-side of all CCT-IP areas which will include enrolment in PhilHealth

3. Ensure the availability and accessibility of health facilities in all CCT-IP areas

4. Lead in the conduct of research study on the desirable, and undesirable health practices of ICCs

5. Help monitor the operation of the program, particularly the verification of compliance of the beneficiaries with the health conditionalities through Municipal Health Unit

C. Department of Education (DepEd)

1. Ensure implementation of DepEd Order 74 s. 2009 (Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education), DepEd Order No. 101 s. 2010 (Alternative Learning System (ALS) Curriculum for Indigenous) and DepEd Order 62 s. 2011 (National Policy Framework on IP Education) in all CCT-IP areas;

2. Ensure the availability and accessibility of schools facilities and IP contextualized education materials in all CCT-IP areas;

3. Help monitor the operation of the program particularly the verification of compliance of the beneficiaries with the education conditionalities

D. National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP)

1. Actively participate in the Advisory Committee and the Technical Working Group (TWG) at the national, regional, provincial and municipal levels

2. Ensure that CCT-IP program policies and guidelines are in accordance with provisions of Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA)

3. Coordinate with ICCs/IP in the conduct of social preparation and documentation of the community validation process as an exercise of the rights of the IPs to Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC)

4. Provide technical assistance in the development of IP sensitive CFDS modules, establishment of IP appropriate grievance redress and compliance verification mechanism

5. Provide and prioritize educational support for tertiary-level youth in ICC-GIDA subject to existing policies and guidelines

6. Formulate initiating, and enabling policies for IPs

E. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)

1. Issue directive to all LGUs implementing CCT-IP to incorporate the program into their annual development plan and annual investment plan with corresponding budget

2. Provide support in reaching and identifying ICC-GIDAs and registration of ICCs in CCT-IP program

3. Enforce and monitor implementation of IP laws in all CCT-IP areas

F. National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)

1. Provide technical assistance in monitoring the condition of the ICC

G. Qualified Civil Society Organization

1. Overall implementers of the MCCT for IP in coordination with the DSWD Regional Office and Central Office.

2. Assists in the provision of program and services based on the need of the target community.

XII. Effectivity

This memorandum circular approved this ______ day of ______________ 2014 shall take effect immediately.

Issued this 1st of September 2014 at Quezon City, Philippines.

(SGD.) CORAZON JULIANO-SOLIMANSecretary

 

ANNEX 1

Social Preparation Process

  

ANNEX 2

Community & Family Development Procedures

 

ANNEX 3

Convergence of Services Procedures

  

ANNEX 4

Policy Advocacy Procedures

  

ANNEX 5

Development of IP-Sensitive and Culturally Appropriate Program Communication Materials

  

ANNEX 6

Financial Procedure for Fund Release to CSO Partners in MCCT-IP

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

 

n Note from the Publisher: Copied verbatim from the official copy. Irregular numerical sequence.