ERPAT (Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities) is a program that aims to engage and empower fathers to become more effective and responsive parents. It provides training to develop fathers' skills in caring for their families and performing parental responsibilities. The program is implemented by local social welfare offices and involves forming community-based father's associations. It uses modular training packages to educate fathers on topics like childcare, preventing family violence, substance abuse, and promoting positive masculinity. The goal is to strengthen families by enhancing fathers' abilities to be nurturing caregivers and role models.

1. Empowerment and Re-
affirmation of Paternal Abilities
– Men OpposedViolence
Everywhere
ERPAT – MOVE

2. INTRODUCTION
In a country like ours, fathers are almost always the
hardest-to -reach-both inside and outside in the
home-when it comes to child care and
development. The father however, is not at fault
here. In a lot of cases, he simply does not know how.
Society’s predefined role for the “man of the
house” dictates that he just has to bring home the
bacon and win the bread. Beyond these, most
fathers are left clueless as to what to do to be more
effective and responsive parents.

3. Effective and responsive fathering refers to how a
father performs his parental roles and
responsibilities to his family , most especially to his
children. It also refers to the kind of relationships he
maintains with each member of his family; and with
this relationships, how he is able to animate the
family to perform each one’s roles and functions.
Such is the Intention of Empowerment and
Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities or more
popularly known as ERPAT

4. ERPAT:The Basic Information
ERPAT is the word “PATER” pronounced backward.
A colloquial term coined by the sons and
daughters of the 60’s which gained popularity
through the 70’s, ERPAT was and is commonly
used by children particularly the teenagers-to
mean an easy-to-approach father, in a peer-to-
peer relationship as members of the family;
and one who is not frightening but instead
considered as a peer-friend.

5. ERPAT or Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal
Abilities aims to engage fathers to become effective and
responsive. It gives importance and emphasis on father’s
paternal roles, responsibilities and abilities. It aims to
achieve shared parenting tasks in the performance of
familial responsibilities.
Simply put, a father’s role transcends from a mere
“provider” to one who shares parenting that includes
providing care, attention and affection to each member of
his family. ERPAT focuses on how this person carries
himself as a father performing multiple roles as his child’s
teacher and caregiver, his wife’s husband and a friend to
everyone in his household.

6. ERPAT also gives emphasis on eliminating
traditional gender roles manifested in the
proliferation of the “macho” image of men as
seen and observed in the norms, expectations
and behaviour patterns of Filipino males.
ERPAT aims to help fathers achieve a broader
and fairer definition of gender roles, while
understanding of one’s self as a nurturing and
caring individual both for his children and
spouse.

7. ERPAT RATIONALE
Like in any development program, project, service,
activity and or strategy, ERPAT stands on the firm
conviction that fathers DO need help to be able to
perform their roles and responsibilities. Further,
strengthen and maximize their capacities to become
effective and efficient advocates in the elimination of
violence against women and their children.

8. MOVE
Men OpposedViolence Everywhere
That is why it is also called ERPAT-MOVE because you should be the number
one advocates in the elimination of violence in your community/barangay.

9. LEGAL BASES
INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENT
1. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
NATIONAL LAWS
1. 2. 1987 Philippine Constitution
2. The Family Code of the Philippines
3. The Child andYouth Welfare Code (PD 603)
4. The Ant-Violence Against Women and ChildrenAct or RA 9262
5. Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and DiscriminationAct or RA
7610
6. Family Courts Act of 1997

10. What is ERPAT’s Social Development Nature?
ERPAT can be a lot of things for those who are involved:
ERPAT is a service that gives importance and emphasis on the
development and enrichment of knowledge, attitudes and skills of
fathers in performing their paternal roles and responsibilities.
It involves the conduct of community-based sessions for fathers;
training of and organization of father-leaders and volunteers in the
community to facilitate collective action and participation in
promoting the important role of fathers to the family.
ERPAT also serves as one of the interventions of the Parent
Effectiveness Services (PES) because it sees the significant roles of
fathers in all aspects of child rearing and caring.

11. What are ERPAT’s objective?
General:
To enhance and strengthen parenting capabilities of Filipino
fathers in performing their tasks and responsibilities.
Specific:
1. To empower fathers by developing a positive concept of self.
2. 2. To develop and enhance the father’s attitudes, knowledge
and skills on Early Childhood Care and Development; preparing
and equipping adolescent children in handling and meeting
adult roles and responsibilities, and raising children with high
spiritual values.

12. 3. To help fathers develop gender sensitivity and appreciation of
partnership with their spouses in promoting and enhancing family
life by;
A.Enhancing and strengthening a positive and satisfying marital
relationship.
B. Preventing violence in the home.
C.Promoting shared parenthood and planned family size.
4.To establish networks among fathers in the community and
enhance their active participation and involvement especially in
establishing a drug-free family, understanding and preventing HIV-
AIDS and all forms of violence in the family.

13. Who are ERPAT’sTarget Beneficiaries?
All males who need better knowledge, attitudes and skills on
fathering, who are unable to cope with familial responsibilities and
who fall under the following categories:
1.Generally fathers with children 0-24 years old.
2. Biological Fathers (including but not limited to)
• Solo Father
• Returning migrant/OFWs
• Released Prisoners
• Persons with disability
3. Adoptive Father
4.Newly wed husbands

14. 5. Organized father groups i.e. faith based organization
6. Surrogate Fathers (including but not limited to)
•Foster father
•Guardian
•Caretaker
7. Fathers who are members of barangay-based
organization,i.e. barangay tanod.
8. Fathers who are members and would be members of the
Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere
(MOVE).

15. Who Benefits from ERPAT?
Aside from the fathers, including their families and
communities all the members of Men Opposed to Violence
AgainstWomen Everywhere (MOVE) benefit from ERPAT.
Who implements ERPAT?
The Local Social Welfare and Development Office
(LSWDO) are the direct implementers of ERPAT.
Meanwhile, the DSWD through its field offices provide
technical support to the LSWDO. Lastly, father-leaders
are the main actors in community level ERPAT
implementation.

16. ERPAT’s Service Components
1.Advocacy and Social Mobilization
2.Organization and Strengthening of Father’s
Associations
3.Capability Building/Training
4.Networking and Alliance Building

17. ERPATVISION:
ERPAT envisions responsible Filipino Fathers who are committed, disciplined,
knowledgeable and are highly appreciative in carrying out effective paternal
roles and responsibilities.
ERPAT MISSION
To work with fathers and their families in the community helping them to:
1. Appreciate their roles in the family
2. Improve performance of paternal tasks, and
3. Access support services and activities that will help them achieve a united,
productive and stable family.
To form ERPAT associations at the barangay level, federations at the municipal/city,
provincial and national levels and gain representations in local councils

18. ERPAT ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Auditor
Public Relations Officer
Peace Courting Officer

19. THE ENHANCED ERPAT
MODULAR PACKAGES

20. 1. Module I – Understanding Myself as a Person
• Understanding Myself
• Building Positive Self-Esteem as a father
2. Module II – Accepting your Role as a Father
• Importance of a Father Image
• Development of Paternal Identity
• Knowing and Understanding your role as a father
3. Module III – Becoming yourWife’s Best friend
• Difference between Sex and Gender
• Understanding the difference between Men andWomen
• Improving Relationship with my wife
• Sexuality in Marriage
• Responsible Parenthood through Planned Family Size

21. 4. Module IV – Fathers as Child Care Giver
• Understanding the Developmental Stages of Children
• Responding to the Growth and Development Needs of Children andAdolescent
• RaisingChildren in Gender Sensitive ways
• Responding to Child’s Rights and Responsibilities
5. ModuleV – Promoting Family Spirituality
• Fathers as Spiritual Leaders
• Raising your Children to be of High SpiritualValues
6. ModuleVI – Fathers as Advocate in the Prevention of Family
Violence
• Understanding FamilyViolence
• PreventingViolence in the Home
• The Fathers Role in Preventing FamilyViolence in the Community

22. 7. ModuleVII – Fathers As Advocate in Promoting A Drug-Free
Home
• Understanding Substance Abuse
• Drug/SubstanceAbuse in the Home
8. Fathers As Advocate in the Prevention of HIV-AIDS
• Understanding HIV-AIDS
• Safe Sex and other Safety Measures
9. Module IX – Fathers as Advocate in Promoting Positive Discipline

23. Here’s a step-by-step guide for LGU Implementers
A.Coordinate with Barangay Council and other Key Leaders.
B.Identify and Recruit your target participants (fathers). Among
those you can initially engage are;
Fathers who are members of the Day Care Service Parents Group.
Fathers of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.
Supplemental feeding parents groups.
Neighbourhood Parent Effectiveness Assembly.
Husbands of women who are involved and/or are beneficiaries of programs
for women.
Members of Brgy. Council for the protection of children.
Fathers who are MOVE members.

24. Aside from the above , you must also consider
fathers of families at risks. To identify them you may
need to refer to the following indicators.
1.Families with reported cases of abuse.
2.Families whose members are with poor health/nutrition.
3.Families whose children are out of school.
4.Families whose heads exhibit inappropriate behaviour
models of family such as substance use and abuse, and
5.Families with Solo male parent

25. C. Conduct an Orientation on ERPAT.
D. Organize a core group of fathers
E. Set a final schedule for the ERPAT community-
Based Session.
F. Conduct the ERPAT sessions.
G. Conduct and Organizational PlanningWorkshop.
H. Organize an ERPAT Association.
I. Implement the Planned Programs and Projects of
ERPAT

26. THE Stakeholders Functions
ERPAT has four (4) main groups of
stakeholders, namely the ERPAT father
volunteers/leaders, the LGUs, NGOs &
Civic and Private groups and the DSWD
Central Office together with the DSWD
Field Offices. Each group has specific
functions;

27. A. Functions of ERPAT fathers andVolunteers/Leaders
1. Recruit fathers in the barangay to join ERPAT Association.
2. 2. Organize the ERPAT Association under the direct supervision of the LGU
social worker.
3. Assist the LGU trained social workers in the conduct of ERPAT sessions in
the barangay.
4. Assist the LGU social workers in the conduct of ERPAT training and other
related activities.
5. Assist the ERPAT associations in Management and Monitoring of group
projects and activities.
6. Submit report to LGU social worker of ERPAT Association Accomplishment
and Group Rooster Forms.

28. B.The Role/Functions of Local Government Units
1.Implement and supervise the project.
2.Provide administrative fund support in the
implementation of project.
3. Facilitate organization of ERPAT Associations.
4. Supervise activities of ERPAT Association, e.g. planning
and implementation of support activities in the
community.
5.Conduct training for ERPAT volunteers and leaders.
6.Provide technical assistance and supervision to
members and officers of ERPAT Associations.

29. 7. Identify/ access resources for the provision of social
services to ERPAT family members.
8 Develop and maintain linkages with NGOs, GOs and
other stakeholders.
9. Support public awareness raising/regional concerning
over all goals and thrust of ERPAT.
10. Conduct of monitoring and evaluation using the
standard monitoring tool.
11. Prepare quarterly status reports to DSWD Field
Offices.

30. THANKYOU.