I.
RATIONALE

The emerging issue on the disadvantaged transnational children has caught the attention of all sectors of society. Transnationals are the children born out of relationships between Filipinos and foreign nationals, particularly the children of Filipinos with Americans (Amerasians) and Japanese (Japanese-Filipino) relationship.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is mandated through Executive Order No. 123 to care, protect and rehabilitate the disadvantaged sectors of the society. Likewise the President, His Excellency Fidel V. Ramos, has directed the Department to coordinate with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), NGOs and LGUs to look into the situation of the Amerasians and their families.

Based on dialogues with the Amerasians and their families and the result of the survey/registration conducted, the following needs were identified:

    1. educational assistance/scholarship;

    2. skills development training;

    3. livelihood assistance/employment

    4. socio-legal assistance; and

    5. medical/health services

The DSWD in collaboration with other GOs/NGOs proposed a package of support services for the disadvantaged transnationals, particularly the Amerasians.

Regarding the Japanese-Filipino children, there is still a dearth of information as to their exact number and profile as well as their needs. However, with the recent cases of abandoned children of Japanese fathers who were repatriated to the Philippines, a need to respond to this issue is called for. According to Kenshi Nishida of the Young Lawyers Association of Japan, it is estimated that there have been about 25,000 Japanese-Filipino marriages in the last 6-7 years many of which ended in divorce or separation leaving the children to the care and custody of the mother without any support from the Japanese father. Per Batis (an NGO involved in Japanese-Filipino children), there are about 10,000 Japanese-Filipino in the country needing protection and assistance.

The project also includes the conduct of a survey on the Japanese-Filipino children to have baseline data on them and determine their needs. These data will be the basis of programs to be developed for them.

II.
DESCRIPTION

The project seeks to respond to the economic, educational, medical, legal and psycho-social needs of the transnational children and their families. Priority is given to the children of Filipinos with Americans and Japanese parentage.

Amerasians are the first generation children of relationships between American military personnel (servicemen and civilian personnel connected with the base) and Filipino women.

Japanese-Filipinos are the first generation children having Japanese and Filipino parentage needing assistance.

A.  Objectives:

The project will provide opportunities for the survival, protection and development of transnational children as well as enhancing the capacity of their families to be self-reliant, productive and contributive members of society. Specifically, the project shall:

1. Provide continuing data in the number and profile of transnational children as well as their current situation;

2. Provide sustainable self-employment opportunities to generate income to meet their financial/economic needs;

3. Provide basic skills, knowledge and related information required to perform a specific income generating activity;

4. Provide educational assistance for formal schooling as well as non-formal education;

5. Provide socio-legal assistance to aid Amerasians/ Japanese-Filipinos establish their identities;

6. Provide medical and health services in coordination with the Department of Health;

7. Strengthen linkages and referral system with other government/non-government/people ™s organizations; and

8. Provide information and data for decision-making and future planning.

B.  Coverage

The project is nationwide in scope covering 1,500 transnational children. Priority shall be given to transnationals 0 to 24 years of age. This shall be implemented for one year with possible expansion next year to cover more beneficiaries.

C.  Components:

The project shall employ various components to respond to the needs of the transnational children and their families.

1. Pre-Implementation

1.1. Coordinate/collaborate with other agencies involved in the project (networking and advocacy) in order to strengthen linkages and for an effective referral system.

1.2. Conduct of research/survey in order to have a baseline data in transnational children and their families.

1.3. Recruit/select and train the following personnel to be involved in the project:

1.3.1. 1 SWO III - act as the project coordinator (BCYW)

1.3.2. 7 SWO IIs - identify, screen and monitor project beneficiaries (management of the case)

- FO-based (for FOs which have no allocated SWO II, regular SWO IIs shall be tapped to assist in the implementation of the project)

1.3.3. 1 Clerk II - files/maintains records/data regarding the project for reference and other purposes (BCYW)

1.4. Establish pool of volunteers in the communities which shall complement the efforts of workers in carrying out project activities. Community organizations like the Pag-asa Youth Movement, Senior Citizen ™s Association, Women ™s organizations and Parents ™ Association shall likewise be tapped in carrying out the project activities.

2. Project Implementation

2.1. Identification/ screening of beneficiaries

The identification of the needs and problems of the transnationals are based on the results of the survey/ registration . The SWO II in the region in coordination/cooperation with the local Social Worker in the area can use the data for follow-up in preparation of case study.

2.2. Provision of direct and support services

Support services are available for the transnational children as well as their families but will be provided according to their needs. Linkages with other DSWD programs and services shall be established to ensure the success of the project.

2.2.1. Livelihood - geared towards the economic rehabilitation of the children/youth and their families through the provision of integrated package of financial, technical as well as support services. These are:

a. Social Preparation which ensures that the children/ youth and their families are capable of utilizing the assistance given and there are no psycho-social problems that would hinder the fruitful pursuit of the project.

b. Basic Business Management Training enhances and upgrade the managerial skills of the beneficiaries in the management of micro-enterprise.

c. Capital Assistance provides seed fund which shall bear no interest and shall require no collateral. Rollback, which shall be payable within one to two years, shall be deposited in a trust fund.

d. Support Service which provides counselling to enable the children/youth to have access to entitlement and also to learn management and control of resources to achieve sustained development.

2.2.1.1. To be able to join this livelihood program, the identified children/ youth and their families:

a. must be a resident in the barangay and plan to stay in the barangay for the next two years;

b. must be physically fit to engage in income generating projects;

c. must have in the past or at present experiences/skills in income generating activities; and

d. must be at least 16 years old.

2.2.2. Skills Training - aims at developing the positive work habits, attitudes and basic skills of the children/youth and their families to acquire gainful employment by providing them with training opportunities in their own communities.

2.2.2.1. The children/youth and their families to be included in the skills training must meet the following eligibility requirements:

a. must have the aptitude, interest and capacity to undertake the training and have a high motivation for employment;

b. must be sixteen years old and above;

c. must be a resident of the barangay for the last six months; and

d. must finish the prescribed duration of the training.

2.2.3. Educational Assistance - provision of material and financial assistance like school uniforms, supplies, equipment in a public school as well as fees for skills or vocational training such as automation, electronics, etc.

2.2.3.1. To avail of this provision, the children/ youth must have the following eligibility requirements:

a. must be within school age but not beyond 24 years old at the time of application;

b. must not have availed of the educational programs provided by other agencies; and

c. must have the aptitude to continue schooling.

2.2.3.2. For children below 6 years old, they shall be included in the day care center or in public pre-schools.

2.2.4. Child Placement Services - provision of child placement services to transnational children and their families to enhance their coping mechanism in order to develop a positive self-image.

2.2.4.1. Adoption and other family alternative placements - provision of other forms of family care to abused, neglected or abandoned children in preparation for his return to his biological family or to a more permanent placement.

2.2.4.1.1. Adoption

a. Identification, recruitment and development of adoptive homes especially for older adoption (more than the age of 5) or other alternative family care placement.

b. Assessment of adoptive homes.

c. Preparation of Adoption Home Study Report.

d. Submission of Home Study Report to the Field Office for approval and/or matching.

e. Placement of a child to an adoptive family after the issuance of a Pre-Adoptive Placement Authority.

f. Supervision of placement/ trial custody for six months.

g. Court hearing and finalization of adoption.

2.2.4.1.2. Foster Family Care shall be provided within one year to children whose families cannot provide parental care to their children due to some crisis or problems in the family.

a. Identification, recruitment and development of foster homes, both voluntary and subsidized especially for older children.

b. Assessment of foster families.

c. Preparation and submission of Home Study Report to the Field Office for approval.

d. Licensing of foster families.

e. Issuance of Foster Placement Authority, after a child was matched with the family.

f. Supervision of placement.

g. Termination of Placement thru the child ™s return to his/her parents or adoption or guardianship.

2.2.5. Psycho-social Interventions - aims to help the children and adult who have identity crisis and are confronted with other psychosocial problems. This involves the following:

a. Identifying children and adult with identity crisis and other psychosocial problems thru psychological evaluation and case histories. Individual or group counselling maybe provided.

b. Forming a support group composed of children and adult themselves to be utilized in helping other needy children and adult with the assistance of a trained social worker.

c. Provision of casework services, individual/ group counselling and other therapeutic experiences thru theater arts, play therapy, etc.

d. Referring needy children and adult to other professionals for assistance when necessary.

2.2.6. Legal Assistance - aims to respond to the legal needs of the children and adult regarding citizenship issue, late or non-registration of birth in coordination with the Local Civil Registrar ™s Office and the Department of Justice (DOJ). Networking and coordination shall be undertaken to include the following:

a. A pool of lawyers shall be identified and maintained to assist in the cases of the transnationals such as those from the Public Attorney ™s Office and other lawyers ™ organizations providing free legal services.

    * Pertinent records needed for legal concerns:

    1. birth certificate

    2. marriage certificate of parents (if available)

    3. paternal acknowledgment

    4. any documents of filiation (i.e. cards, letters, pictures, etc.)

2.2.7. Medical/Health Assistance - provision of medical assistance and health services to needy children and adult in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH). This includes the following:

a. Coordination and referral of needy children/adult to the nearest government health institutions for free medical assistance; and

b. Provision of limited financial assistance, for special medical interventions as indicated.

2.3. Conduct of research/survey

A research/survey on Japanese-Filipino shall be conducted by the DSWD in cooperation/coordination with local government units, non-governmental and people ™s organizations to be able to have baseline data. The survey may include other transnational children. With the survey on Filipino-Amerasians and Japanese-Filipino children, a continuing data-banking shall be maintained.

2.4. Networking and Advocacy

Continuous collaboration and coordination with other GOs and NGOs involved in the project, and also with the media, business and religious sectors shall be conducted to ensure effective networking and referral system towards success of the project.

2.4.1. Roles and Responsibilities of Units Involved

2.4.1.1. DSWD - Bureau of Child and Youth Welfare

a. Conducts survey/ registration of Amerasians/Japanese- Filipinos in collaboration with other GOS and NGOs.

b. Formulates project proposal and implementing guide- lines on services for transnational children.

c. Provides technical assistance in the implementation of the project as well as in the conduct of training in coordination with other Bureaus/Units of DSWD.

d. Initiates networking with other agencies to facilitate assistance to trans-national children and their families.

e. Monitors and conduct regular evaluation of the project.

f.  Prepares quarterly and final report of the project.

g. Coordinates over-all implementation of the project.

2.4.1.2. DSWD - Field Office

a. Oversee/monitor the implementation of the project in the regional level.

b. Monitor and supervise the SWO II in-charge of the project in the identification, screening and monitoring of project beneficiaries and in the implementation of the project per se.

c. Supervise the judicious utilization of project funds.

d. Initiate at their level networking/ collaboration with other agencies to facilitate assistance to the children and their families.

e. Submit monthly reports to the Bureau for the first six months of the implementation and quarterly there-after.

2.4.1.3. Social Welfare Officer II (Field Office)

a. Identify and screen project beneficiaries (case management of the disadvantaged transnationals).

b. Prepare social case study reports.

c. Monitor the project beneficiaries thru on - the - spot/home visits, assessment meetings, etc. in coordination with local social workers in the area.

d. Maintain records and documentary materials relevant to transnational children.

e. Coordinate with other GOs, NGOs and LGUs in the operation of the project.

f.  Prepare and submit statistical and narrative reports on project implementation.

2.4.1.4. City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office/LGUs

a. Assist SWO II in the identification, screening and monitoring of the beneficiaries.

b. Assist SWO II in the organization and orientation of support group composed of transnational children themselves.

c. Provide emergency assistance to the transnationals as the need arises.

2.5. Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation of the project shall be conducted to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of the project. Specifically, the:

2.5.1. Project SWO III of the Bureau shall conduct monitoring and evaluation of the project through on-the-spot visits, assessment meetings and through reports from the field staff. Monitoring will include looking into the number of cases served, type of services rendered, the problems encountered, the action taken or recommendations given during implementation.

2.5.2. Project SWO II in the field office shall monitor the beneficiaries regularly in coordination/cooperation with social workers of local government units through on-the-spot/home visits, assessment meetings, report preparations, etc.

2.5.3. A reporting system (both statistical and narrative) shall be established using the attached forms (Appendices A and B). The FO shall submit monthly reports to the Bureau for the first six months of the implementation and every quarter thereafter. The Bureau shall prepare quarterly and final reports on the project.

2.5.4. The Bureau shall also maintain a data-bank regarding the project for reference and other purposes to be filed/maintained by the project Clerk II.

2.5.5. A year-end evaluation of the project shall be undertaken by the Bureau in coordination with respective field offices involved in the project.

For compliance.

Adopted: 27 May 1994