"EMPOWERING FAMILIES FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES: A SYMPOSIUM ON THE SDG-FACES PROGRAM"

A DILG program that is in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations (UN) is called the SDG-FACES Project, which stands for Sustainable Development Goals-Family-Based Actions for Children and Their Environs... The recipients had been thoughtfully selected and validated by the government's "SDG-FACEs" program, according to the criteria that the project organizers created. Barangay Bagtic Mabinay Negros Oriental is the location of the aforementioned project.

The initiative is centered on helping communities devise strategies and methods to combat poverty. A training program covering  topics  like civic duty education, spiritual and psychological aspects of parenting, health and nutrition, backyard gardening and livestock raising, solid waste management, GAD sensitivity, and disaster risk reduction and management were lectured to the parents in order to help them manage their families and affairs more effectively. A reading intervention program was put in place for kids to help them do well in school. During the symposium, the beneficiaries shared that they now have a thorough understanding of how the government works and a greater understanding of government initiatives to assist the underprivileged and marginalized.

Moreover, they were also given goats to boost their livelihood, other supplies like vitamins, toilet bowls, seeds, 5 kilos of rice every session, school supplies, etc. were also provided to the beneficiaries. The kids also received school supplies, t-shirts, and cash assistance from Ej Uy during the symposium. Vice Mayor and Mayor Uy provided the parents with a financial assistance of 10kls of rice.

Consequently, SDG-FACEs has great impact on the lives of the beneficiaries. It is recommended to continue the program in order to reach more families and assist more impoverished households in meeting their immediate and basic needs. The LGU, DILG, and partner organizations constantly make every effort to provide the beneficiaries assistance to uplift their standard of living.