The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 7 recently organized a consultation dialogue with the local government units (LGUs) in Bohol province.

The consultation dialogue is part of the continuous coordination of the agency with the LGUs regarding the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) implementation.

Bohol Acting Governor Dionisio Victor Balite said in his message, “I am delighted to see so many committed leaders here today. Your presence reflects our commitment to building a stronger and more resilient Bohol. Our discussions and deliberations in this forum will undoubtedly contribute to the continuous improvement of governance and service delivery in our respective localities.”

Some highlights discussed include the salient points of Republic Act 11310, or the 4Ps Act, the 2023 social welfare and development indicator (SWDI) results and gaps, and the joint memorandum circular (JMC) no. 2022-001 between the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and DSWD, which aims to ensure that 4Ps households are supported and provided with complementary services in their respective localities.

Based on the 2024 first quarter monitoring, all 48 LGUs in Bohol have JMC submission, which includes local issuances like executive orders on the creation of local convergence teams and composition of the city and municipal action team (CMAT), ordinances on cash card pawning, and resolutions prioritizing the delivery of complementary intervention and services to active and graduated 4Ps beneficiaries.

Various LGUs have also appropriated budgets for different activities in support of the program implementation like the conduct of the 4Ps Saulog ceremonial graduation, Parent Leaders’ capability building, livelihood program, and skills training for active and exited households, stress management, and mental health awareness for 4Ps staff, free medical services, and technical assistance on farming and vegetable seedlings.

In the afternoon session, selected local chief executives (LCEs) presented their good practices concerning the 4Ps implementation in their locality.

The LGUs are the Municipality of Pilar for Improved Level of Well-Being, the Municipality of Batuan for Family Development Session (FDS) Implementation, the Municipality of Loon and the Municipality of Loboc for Convergence Practices, the Municipality of Loay for the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) Implementation, and the Municipality of Getafe for the Grievance Redress System (GRS) Initiative.

The highlight of the activity is the presentation of recognition to various LGUs for their support of the program. The 4Ps National Program Manager Gemma Gabuya and DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero presented the certificate and plaque of recognition to the awardees.

All 48 LGUs in Bohol received recognition for their local issuances like ordinances or resolutions supporting the 4Ps.

Meanwhile, the LGUs with complete, quality, and timely JMC quarterly submissions for 2023 were also recognized, like Getafe, Loay, Loboc, Loon, Tubigon, and Valencia.

The LGUs with the highest compliance rate in education were also recognized, namely Bilar, Catigbian, Bien Unido, Panglao, Candijay, Garcia Hernandez, Batuan, Lila, Albuquerque, and Baclayon, and the LGUs with the highest compliance rate in health were Albuquerque, Batuan, Danao, Dauis, Garcia Hernandez, Lila, Anda, Getafe, Pilar, and Panglao.

The LGUs with 100% resolution of cases of 4Ps gender-based violence, composed of Anda, Bien Unido, Panglao, and Valencia, received certificates of recognition.

The municipality of Batuan was awarded for the best family development session implementation, while Valencia town received the best youth development session implementation.

The municipality of Getafe, the lone LGU with an approved ordinance against cash card pawning, received a recognition plaque.

The towns of Trinidad, Panglao, San Miguel, Dimiao, Cortes, Mabini, Batuan, Garcia Hernandez, Lila, Jagna, Sierra Bullones, Loay, Candijay, Tubigon, Loboc, Antequera, Corella, Sevilla, Sikatuna, Pilar, and the City of Tagbilaran received recognition as LGUs having the most self-sufficient households in Bohol.

DSWD-7 also recognized LGUs with impactful 4Ps Saulog ceremonial graduations, like the towns of Antequera, Balilihan, Bien Unido, Candijay, Garcia Hernandez, Getafe, Loay, Loboc, Loon, Pilar, and Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Talibon, Valencia, and the City of Tagbilaran.

Finally, the municipalities of Loon and Loboc received the Best Convergence award.

Director Gemma Gabuya provided the keynote message during the Bohol LCE consultation dialogue.

Director Gabuya said that for Region 7, “we are committed to graduating more than 84,705 households, with 16,990 households coming from Bohol, to achieve a self-sufficiency level of well-being. The task is clear: the necessity for a collective effort, a symphony of collaboration between the national government agencies and the local government unit. Our challenge is to foster a collaborative spirit that harnesses the strengths of both national and local levels.”

Gabuya underscored the need to focus on the key areas in ensuring the program’s sustainability, like understanding different challenges, supporting families through livelihood, monitoring progress, institutionalizing partnerships, leveraging local resources, and working towards achieving the seal of good local governance.

The 4Ps is the major poverty alleviation program of the national government that invests in the health, nutrition, and education of the poor and eligible households. These and the psychosocial and educational components provided through the Family Development Session (FDS) lead the beneficiaries to have improved and sustained well-being. The government implemented the program through DSWD and institutionalized 4Ps in 2019 by Republic Act 11310, or the 4Ps Act. ###

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