(Left Photo) DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo (4th from left) joins Metrobank Foundation and GT Foundation Head George Ty (3rd from left), Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano (5th from left) and other guests during the kick-off activity of Bags of Blessing. (Right Photo) Sec. Taguiwalo beams as she hands a bag of goodies to a mother-beneficiary of the project.

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) joined Metrobank Foundation and the George Ty (GT) Foundation in the  kick-off activity of the Bags of Blessing Project which was simultaneously held this morning in various areas around the country.

The Bags of Blessing Project aims to distribute 10,000 bags of groceries worth P1,000 each to 10,000 poor families in selected towns and cities in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Earlier this week, DSWD, Metrobank Foundation and GT Foundation inked the Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of the project. Under the project, the local government units (LGUs)  identified the beneficiaries while the DSWD validated the list of family-recipients.  The beneficiaries are all underprivileged families who are not covered by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

The main activity was held at the Lakeshore Hall in Taguig City, Metro Manila, where DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo joined Metrobank and GT Foundation head George Ty and his family, as well as other executives of the two foundations in the distribution of grocery bags to some 500 poor families from the city. Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano also graced the event.

Each grocery bag contained rice, milk sugar, canned goods, and noodles among other basic commodities.

Simultaneous distribution also took place in Baguio City; Balanga, Bataan; Imus City, Cavite; Sta. Rosa, Laguna; Iloilo City; Cebu City; Palo, Leyte; Cotabato City; and Zamboanga City with 500 beneficiary families each.

Metrobank Foundation expects to finish the distribution of the 10,000 bags of groceries early next month.

In her message, Sec. Taguiwalo said, “ Ayon sa kuwento, kaya nag-iingay ang mga Chinese pag dumadating ang new year ay para itaboy ang isang monster o halimaw. Kaya’t ngayong araw na ito, andito tayong lahat para itaboy naman ang  halimaw na kung tawagin ay kahirapan sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan nating lahat ( According to tales,  Chinese families make loud noises during the new year to drive away a monster. Today, through our partnership, we are all here to drive away the monster called poverty).”

Sec. Taguiwalo also hoped that DSWD and Metrobank and GT Foundations can further strengthen the partnership by also coming up with more sustainable programs aimed at eradicating poverty in the country. ###