Some 1,908 households graduated from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the Central Visayas region.

The 4Ps partner-beneficiaries who graduated from the program are those with no 0 to 18 years old children or have graduated from the Senior High School and those that are already in the level 3 or considered self-sufficient based on Social Welfare Development Indicator (SWDI) conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala shares her own life story to inspire 4Ps families to continue to persevere in life.

The SWDI aimed to determine and monitor the progress of the 4Ps households’ well-being and to facilitate the case management for a sustainable transition out of poverty.

To be considered a self-sufficient household, the household-beneficiary should have enough income at the time of graduation, able to cope with their daily needs, and achieved the first two levels of SWDI, which are Survival (Level 1) and Subsistence (Level 2), respectively.

Out of 1,908 graduated 4Ps beneficiaries, 1,291 households have no 0 to 18 years old children, and 617 are already self-sufficient.

Those that already conducted graduation ceremony are the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Daanbantayan, Boljoon, Tuburan, San Remigio, Lapu-Lapu City, Borbon, Tabogon, Medellin, and the City of Naga in Cebu; for Bohol province, the LGUs are the towns of President Carlos P. Garcia, Duero, Talibon, and Ubay; in Negros Oriental province, the LGUs of Tayasan, Manjuyod, Bindoy, La Libertad, Canlaon City, Guihulngan City, Pamplona, Jimalalud, and Vallehermoso; and the town of Lazi in Siquijor Province.

Other LGUs in Central Visayas will also conduct their graduation ceremony in the coming months.

Dako gayud ang pasalamat sa programa nga nakatabang namo sa pagpa-eskwela sa among mga anak ug karon nakatrabaho na sila. Karon sila na ang nitabang sa pagpa-eskwela sa ilang manghod (I am thankful for the program because it helped in sending our children to school, and now they already have jobs. Currently they are helping their younger siblings who are still in school),” said Haide Garcia from Brgy. San Isidro, Tabogon, Cebu.

She added that she already has two licensed teachers and one civil engineer. Haide also underscored the importance of using the cash grants wisely because it is intended to support the children’s education.

“I congratulate our 4Ps partner-beneficiaries for reaching this far, and I hope you continue to work hard, persevere, and never forget to pray to God for guidance,” said DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala during the graduation ceremony in Tabogon held on June 16, 2021.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala turn-over the case folders to Tabogon Mayor Zigfred Duterte during the 4Ps graduation ceremony on June 16, 2021. Also present are 4Ps Cebu Provincial Link Brigieda Goron (leftmost) and Tabogon Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) Roglin Sumayang (rightmost).

During turn-over of graduating 4Ps households’ case folders, Director Geamala encouraged the Mayors to provide other appropriate intervention to sustain or further improve their economic status.

The LGUs, through the Local Chief Executives, pledged to have an after-care monitoring program to check the status of the families as part of the sustainability plan of the households upon their exit transition from the program. The LGUs also passed a resolution to ensure the sustainability plan for the exited 4Ps partner-beneficiaries

Partner National Government Agencies (NGAs) like the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DOH) also attended the graduation ceremony and shared the impact of the program in terms of education and health of the beneficiaries.

The 4Ps is the government’s major poverty alleviation program that invests in the health, nutrition, and education of poor eligible households. These, with the psychosocial and educational component provided through the Family Development Session (FDS), lead the beneficiaries to have improved and sustained well-being. ###

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