‘RUN FOR COMFORT’ PROJECT BENEFITS 4PS BENEFICIARIES IN TAGANA-AN

By Venus L. Garcia

A fun run activity or a ‘Color Me Run’ dubbed as ‘Run for Comfort’ paved the way in providing access to clean and comfortable sanitary toilet facility in the town of Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte.

Many of the households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps in barangay Patiño, Tagana-an have benefitted from the proceeds of the fun run activity by installing devices for individual convenience in the sanitary disposal of body wastes.

This is an initiative of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - Surigao del Norte Provincial Operations Office, with the support of the local government unit of Tagana-an, Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). “May 11 households na ang nakinabang sa nasabing proyekto o inisyatibo na Run for Comfort. Kaya maraming salamat kasi ‘yong LGU Tagana-an ay talagang sumusuporta para maisakatuparan ito. Kung wala lang sanang pandemic ay tuloy-tuloy sana ang ating aktibidad para makalikom ng sapat na pondo para mas marami ang matulungan,” said Shalom Dapar Sumaguila, provincial link of the Surigao

The project also aims to encourage the 4Ps beneficiaries to establish their own comfort room in their houses which is essential to good health, clean environment, growth and development, and in order to avoid the harmful effects of unsanitary toilet open defecation.

“Nang dahil sa initiative po na ‘yon may plano po ng provincial office ng DSWD Pantawid Pamilya na gawin yon provincialwide para mas malaki ang malilikom natin na pondo para masolusyunan ang problema ng open defecation lalo na sa mga coastal areas. So, siguro pagkatapos ng pandemic gagawin natin ‘yon, i-replicate natin para talagang mas marami pang pamilya ang matutulungan,” said Sumaguila.

The DSWD reminded the 4Ps beneficiaries to properly utilize the cash grants intended to address their daily basic necessities.

Meanwhile, Mary Jane Digma, a resident of barangay Patiño and a recipient of the toilet facility project is grateful for the kind of aid provided to her family as they had long been wanting to put up their own clean and comfortable sanitary toilet.

The ‘Run for Comfort’ project is an entry of Tagana-an for the 2021 Search for Best 4Ps Initiative of the DSWD Caraga. (VLG/PIASurigao del Norte)