Do you know where the “Rice Granary of the Philippines” is? With its vast plantations of rice and other agricultural crops, the term is referring to the Central Luzon Region. And despite rapid modernization, there are many farmers tilling land in the area.
Farmers and their families, along with fisherfolk and other sectors, are among the beneficiaries of some Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) programs. In the Central Luzon Region, these initiatives are managed by DSWD Field Office III.
Location of DSWD Field Office III – Central Luzon Region
DSWD Field Office III – Central Luzon Region is located in the Government Center of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. San Fernando is a first class city and the capital of the province.
Cities/Municipalities Under DSWD Field Office III – Central Luzon Region
DSWD Field Office III covers the seven provinces that comprise Central Luzon: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. Interestingly, Central Luzon is the region that has the most number of provinces in the whole country.
Aurora is divided into eight municipalities, with Baler as the provincial capital. Bataan has 11 municipalities and one city, Balanga. Meanwhile, Tarlac and Zambales also have one city each (Tarlac City and Olongapo), plus 17 and 13 municipalities, respectively.
The other provinces are made up of municipalities and multiple cities. Bulacan is divided into 20 municipalities and four cities: Baliuag, Malolos, Meycauayan, and San Jose Del Monte. Pampanga has 19 municipalities and three cities: Angeles, Mabalacat, and San Fernando. And finally, Nueva Ecija has 27 municipalities and five cities: Cabanatuan, Gapan, Muñoz, Palayan, and San Jose.
Key Programs and Services
Similar to other regions, DSWD Field Office III carries out the department’s key programs, including the following:
Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP). Under this program, select children in a community are provided nutritious meals, in addition to their regular meals.
Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). This community-based program aims to improve the socioeconomic status of its recipients, while building their capacity as well.
Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community-Driven Development Program (Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP). A community-based, poverty alleviation program, this initiative seeks to uplift the socioeconomic status of its beneficiaries, and at the same time build the capacity of local government units (LGUs) and stakeholders.
Center and Residential Care Facilities. These are facilities that address the needs of vulnerable sectors such as victims of domestic violence, abandoned street children, recovering drug users, and more. The center and residential care facilities in the region are:
- Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) in Lubao, Pampanga;
- Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) in Magalang, Pampanga;
- HAVEN Pampanga in Magalang, Pampanga;
- Regional Home for Girls in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija;
- Tarlac Home for Women in Tarlac City, Tarlac;
- Tarlac Lingap Center (TLC) in Tarlac City, Tarlac; and
- Accelerating Minor’s Opportunity for Recovery (AMOR) Village in Anao, Tarlac.
Adoption and Foster Care. The DSWD manages the process for the placement of children under foster care or adoption.
Assistance to Individuals In Crisis Situations (AICS). This program offers a range of services to individuals and families in crisis. These include medical assistance, educational assistance, transportation assistance, and more.
Disaster Response Management Services. This is a series of services catering to families and communities that are affected by natural or man-made disasters. These include provision of relief goods, emergency shelter assistance, cash-for-work, and other services.
Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP). This is a holistic program that involves various services for victims of human trafficking. It includes temporary shelter, basic needs, legal assistance, livelihood assistance, and reintegration services.
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). As the flagship poverty reduction program of the Philippine government, the 4Ps caters to the “poorest of the poor,” providing them with educational grants, health grants, rice subsidy, and other services.
Listahanan. Operated by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), Listahanan is an information management system that is used to determine and identify the poorest and most vulnerable households in the country.
Recent Achievements and Milestones
Meanwhile, here are some of the latest updates featured on the official Facebook page of DSWD Field Office 3 – Central Luzon:
Successful Harvests thru Project LAWA and BINHI
Project LAWA and BINI continues to thrive in Barangay Daan Pare, Orion, Bataan, long after the turnover last July 5, 2024. To this day, beneficiaries have been able to harvest sitaw, okra, sili, and talong.
These vegetables are sold, thus boosting the savings fund of the beneficiaries’ federation. Some vegetables are distributed to visitors, while others are used for consumption by federation members.
Project LAWA and BINHI is a DSWD initiative that promotes self-sufficiency and sustainability through urban gardening and other similar activities.
Image Credit: DSWD Field Office 3 – Central Luzon / Facebook
4Ps Beneficiary Graduates Cum Laude
DSWD Field Office III congratulates Alaina Jayne B. Larga, a 4Ps beneficiary. She recently graduated Cum Laude, with a degree in BS Secondary Education, Major in English, from President Ramon Magsaysay State University. Notably, Alaina’s family was hailed last year as the Provincial Winner of Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya 2023.
Image Credit: DSWD Field Office 3 – Central Luzon / Facebook
DSWD FO III Distributes FFPs to Typhoon Victims
On August 24, 2024, DSWD Field Office III distributed 577 Family Food Packs (FFPs) to residents of Mayantoc, Tarlac, who were affected by Typhoon Carina and Habagat (monsoon) rains.
The distribution was held in coordination with the LGU, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office(PSWDO), Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), Municipal PNP, and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (LDRRMO) of Mayantoc, Tarlac.
Image Credit: DSWD Field Office 3 – Central Luzon / Facebook
How to Apply for Jobs in DSWD Field Office III – Central Luzon Region
For those who are interested in applying for a job with DSWD Field Office III, be sure to gather and prepare these documents first:
- Application Letter;
- Comprehensive Resume or updated Personal Data Sheet (CS Form No. 212);
- Certified photocopies of Transcript of Records (TOR) and Diploma;
- Certificates of Trainings and Seminars attended;
- Certificate(s) of Employment;
- Certification of Board Rating/Professional License/CS Eligibility (if applicable);
- Certification from School for Masters or PhD units earned or completed (if any); and
- Individual Performance Contract Rating (IPCR) for the last semester (if any).
Once you have gathered all the necessary documents, you can visit the official website of DSWD Field Office III for more information about job vacancies.
Send your application via email to hiring.fo3@dswd.gov.ph. Enter the “E-Mail Subject Code” provided in each vacancy as the subject of your email. Check out the infographic below for more details:
Video: 4Ps Graduation in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija
Watch this video for the highlights of “Pugay Tagumpay” 4Ps graduation ceremony held last April 4, 2024 in Cabanatuan City. Some 419 household beneficiaries graduated from the program:
Contact Information: DSWD Field Office III – Central Luzon Region
If you have any inquiries or concerns for DSWD Field Office III, you can get in touch with the office through these contact details:
Address: Government Center, Maimpis, City of San Fernando Pampanga
Telephone: (045) 861-2413 / (045) 860-5629
Email: fo3@dswd.gov.ph
Website: https://fo3.dswd.gov.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dswdfo3/
Google Map:
Final Thoughts
As the “Rice Granary of the Philippines” where most of the country’s staple crop is cultivated, Central Luzon plays a major role in food security and economic development. Likewise, DSWD Field Office III also plays an important role — protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of farmers and other people in the region.
To read about other field offices, check out this full list of DSWD Regional Offices in the Philippines.