The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced Thursday that it plans to expand the implementation of its Parenting Effectiveness Services (PES) program to equip more parents with guidance on disciplining and supporting their children, particularly in navigating new media and technology. 

"Kaya kami sa DSWD, mayroon tayong tinatawag na parenting effectiveness services (PES), bagamat ito ay kina-cascade natin sa mga pamilya in poor communities, we’re looking at expanding its implementation to cover more families,” she said in a Bilyonaryo News Channel interview on Thursday.

“At talagang matiyak natin na nakakapacitate ang lahat ng mga magulang because we're really looking at the preventive side," the DSWD spokesperson added.

(We at the DSWD have what we call the Parenting Effectiveness Service. Although we currently cascade this program to families in poor communities, we are looking at expanding its implementation to cover more families. We want to ensure that all parents are capacitated because we are really looking at the preventive side.)

The expansion of the PES program, however, is anchored in response to the recent school shooting incidents in the country including in Tacloban that left three students dead and the latest incident in Zamboanga City that killed two students, including the student-shooter who killed himself. 

Following these incidents, the DSWD underscored the crucial role of parents in guiding their children and shaping their behavior, particularly by providing proper supervision at home.

According to Dumlao, parents should closely monitor their children’s activities in social media and video games while providing a nurturing home environment that promotes responsible behavior, proper guidance and support. 

“Naniniwala tayo sa pamamaraan na ‘yan ay mailalayo po ang ating mga anak sa mga activities na hindi po karapat-dapat o hindi angkop sa kanilang edad, the DSWD official pointed out. 

(We believe that through this approach, our children can be kept away from activities that are not appropriate or suitable for their age.)

The PES is a DSWD program that addresses the various challenges of parenting by providing practical knowledge to parents about proper discipline, effective communication, and building healthy relationships within the family. 

Parenting sessions through 4PS

The DSWD reported that it is currently implementing Parenting Effectiveness Services through Family Development Sessions (FDS) of the agency and other engagements with local social welfare and development offices nationwide.

Dumlao stressed that parenting sessions are already being conducted through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), with Family Development Sessions (FDS) facilitated for parent-beneficiaries.

“Kinakailangan talaga i-strengthen pa natin yung iba’t ibang mga measures gaya ng mga polisiya at pag-iimplement ng mga batas para mas mabigyan nation ng tamang impormasyon ang ating mga magulang sa tamang pagpapalaki ng kanilang mga anak,” the agency spokesperson added. 

(We really need to further strengthen various measures, such as policies and the implementation of laws, so that we can provide our parents with the right information on the proper upbringing of their children.)

The assistant secretary added that 4Ps parent-beneficiaries had requested the DSWD for an additional Family Development Session (FDS) module to help them better guide their children in using social media.

“Alam ng ating mga magulang, mga 4Ps beneficiaries, yung threats na maaaring maharap ng kanilang mga anak sa paggamit ng mga online platforms,” Dumlao said.

“And that is one of the things that we are doing, actually. We’re developing a module that will capacitate our 4Ps beneficiaries, yung mga magulang, para magabayan nila at ma-supervise nila at mas ma-manage yung kanilang mga anak, especially at the age where the use of social media is prevalent,” she added.

(Our parents, our 4Ps beneficiaries, are aware of the threats that their children may face when using online platforms and that is one of the things that we are doing, actually. We’re developing a module that will capacitate our 4Ps beneficiaries, the parents, so they can guide, supervise and better manage their children, especially at an age when the use of social media is prevalent.)