TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) is encouraging fathers to fully participate in the Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities (ERPAT) of District I program in order to improve their parenting skills and become more involved members of the community as discussed during a program review and evaluation on November 16.
CSWD Officer Susana Daluping asserts that joining ERPAT is an opportunity given to fathers to fulfill their paternal tasks and obligations of raising their children well, and instrumental in preventing gender-based violence by supporting their Barangays in effort to stop abuses against women and children.
Social welfare officer Marinel Dorgay emphasized that the ERPAT program was developed to help male parents become more productive and helpful members of their families and the community, but not to burden them with additional responsibilities.
“ERPAT groups are already established in barangays with the main objective of increasing support and activities relating to gender equality, enhance parenting abilities, prevention of abuse and violence, and equal sharing of parental responsibility,” Dorgay said.
CSWDO is thankful that certain ERPAT members in District I are professionals and barangay officials who are working effectively in supporting the advocacy and activities in their respective capacities.
The ERPAT groups requested that the evaluation and assessment be conducted, that their activities for the upcoming year be planned, their concerns and suggestions for improving program implementation be addressed, and that more people from the community’s male-oriented sectors be encouraged to take part.
