Some 470 beneficiaries graduated from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) held in the People’s Hall, Carcar City Hall, on May 24, 2023.

The 455 4Ps households are already validated as non-poor under the Listahanan 3 household assessment, and some are also considered self-sufficient under the Social Welfare Development Indicator (SWDI) conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The remaining 15 4Ps households no longer have children aged 18 years old and below for education monitoring.

On behalf of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Assistant Secretary Ma. Evelyn Macapobre delivered the keynote message, in which she congratulated the 4Ps graduates for their families’ improved well-being through their determination, resourcefulness, and 4Ps intervention.

Assistant Secretary Macapobre cited a quote: “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing,” as she inspired the 4Ps graduates to sustain the positive changes in their family and support their children’s dreams.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, during the presentation of the 470 4Ps graduates, highlighted their achievements, of which 30 monitored children are already college graduates and 225 are senior high school graduates.

Various family members are now employed in various private companies and in the local government unit. Some are working as barangay officials and barangay workers, overseas Filipino workers, and teachers. Others are engaged in livelihood activities such as livestock raising, food vending, homecare, personal care service providers, farmers, and fishermen.

Asec. Macapobre led the distribution of “sertipiko ng pagkilala” to the 470 4Ps graduates. 4Ps National Program Manager Gemma Gabuya, DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, and Carcar City Mayor Mario Patricio Barcenas accompanied her onstage.

After the distribution of certificates, 4Ps households’ case folders were handed over by DSWD to the local government unit of Carcar, which contained the after-care monitoring program of the 4Ps graduates as part of their sustainability plan, through a ceremonial turn-over.

In the same event, Pantawid welcomed 911 newly registered 4Ps beneficiaries into the program, during which 30 representatives took their oath of commitment to the program.

The 911 beneficiaries will be officially part of the program belonging to Set 12, and they will receive cash grants in exchange for compliance with the different program’s conditions in education and health.

The partner national government agencies, civil society organizations, and two representatives from the World Bank, Ms. Paula Cerutti, Senior Social Protection Specialist, and Mr. Ronald Mutasa, Practice Leader for Human Development, also attended the activity.

The “Saulog” Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Ceremonial Graduation and “Pagsugod” Oath of Commitment of new 4Ps beneficiaries celebrate the program gains and welcome the new set of beneficiaries in the program.

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

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