By Leilani S. Junio
MANILA, Jan. 18 (PNA)– Mark John Samson, 11, and a third grader at the Maceda Elementary School in Sta. Mesa, Manila felt blessed when he learned that he was chosen among the more than 400 disadvantage children that will be part in the send-off activity for Pope on Monday.
“I am happy because I was one of those chosen to sing for Pope Francis when he leaves on Monday,” said Mark John.
He added that while he knows that Pope will be having fewer time to talk to each one of them, he said there is only one wish he will ask.
“I will request him to pray that I may finish my studies,” the boy added.
Being the eldest of six siblings, he was a beneficiary of MCCT since 2013.
Their father died leaving their mother, a street sweeper, to care for her children aged six, five, four, three and a one year-old baby.
His fellow children beneficiary of MCCT since December 2012, Lorenzo Dizon, 11, from Lawton, Manila, said he shares the same bundle of joy.
“I am happy that Pope Francis visited our country,” Lorenzo said.
Lorenzo is a fourth grader from Mabini Elem. School, whose ardent wish for the Holy Father was to help him pray for the reunification of his family.
“I will request him (Pope Francis) to pray that our family be whole again, since my father has another family now,” he sighed.
He added that like other kids who suffered difficulty and being given a fighting chance by the government, his other dream was to finish studies.
“In that way, I can help my mother,” the boy added.
Christine Materiano, 15, a wheelchair-bound girl who is currently a resident of Elsie Gaches Village, is likewise grateful for having this opportunity to see Pope Francis face to face on that “big day” which she described as blessing for her and to other children.
“We are very grateful that DSWD gave us this rare chance and once-in-a lifetime experience of being with the Pope,” she added as she said memories of their youth will be filled with an experience that is worth remembering when they mature.
Children like them are covered by the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT).
As of December 31, 2014, some 218,377 families are covered by MCCT.
MCCT was designed to maximize the reach of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to help families and children in difficult circumstances overcome their situation.
Also given assistance under the program are Families in Need of Special Protection (FNSP) and Homeless Street Families (HSF).
The program used to only give education and health grants to children 0 to 14.
But with the expansion of the program on 2014, extension of age coverage was made possible thus increasing the benefits up to those children whose15 until 18 years old nationwide to ensure that they can finish high school.
The extension goal was to ensure that the dream of finishing studies in high school will be a reality and therefore can give them a chance to have higher income and a chance not to repeat the same poor condition that they inherited from their poor parents.
Around 2, 479 families are covered by the MCCT-HSF since it was implemented in the National Capital Region (NCR) in 2012.
According to Sec. Soliman, the MCCT-HSF covers poor families who were not included in the regular Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program because of their mobile lifestyle and indefinite residence.
It provides a complete package of assistance to street families which includes responsive housing programs, with access to social services and economic opportunities for the improvement of their living conditions.
The MCCT also aims to bring back children to schools and facilitate their regular attendance in facility-based education.
This is done through enrolment in Alternative Learning System (ALS) of education under the Department of Education (DepEd) and other special learning modes.
In addition, the program also facilitates availment of health nutrition services through regular visits to the health center and enhance parenting roles through attendance to Family Development Sessions (FDS).
The program helps in getting children away from the streets and transforming their lives with a suitable, decent and permanent homes.
The program also helps them to reunite with their families, and to mainstream families with children in need of special protection for psychosocial support and better family functioning through the Pantawid Pamilya.
The program is in strong support of DSWD stand that the streets are not safe place for children.
“Let us work together to bring them to safe places,” DSWD Sec. Corazon J. Soliman said.
Soliman added that the call of Pope Francis to have mercy and compassion was very timely and can be best shown by encouraging people to become agents of change in helping to make the society supportive of the fighting chance of disadvantage children to succeed one day in freeing themselves from repetitive cycle of poverty.(PNA)