In celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII recognized its 4Ps workers through the Pagsaulog, the 4Ps Awards Night held in a hotel in Cebu City on December 5, 2023.

DSWD-7 recognized more than 300 4Ps personnel who worked in the program for ten (10) years and beyond. While those who excelled in various areas of program implementation received plaques of recognition.

DSWD Assistant Secretary for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Ma. Evelyn Macapobre and DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero led the handing of the plaque of recognition to the awardees.

“Kung ang mga benepisyaryo ng 4Ps ay may Pugay Tagumpay o Saulog, it is proper to also honor the staff, the 4Ps implementers. We want to convey to you that we see you, that we hear you, that we feel you, that we respect you, and that you are all important to us. So tonight is the night of the humans. Let us celebrate,” said Assistant Secretary Ma. Evelyn Macapobre in her inspirational message.

DSWD-7 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Juanito Cantero, former DSWD Assistant Secretary Teodulo Romo, Jr., former DSWD-7 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Nemia Antipala, former 4Ps regional program coordinators, and other pioneer staff who started the legwork of the program in 2008 also attended the activity.

The awards night is the highlight of the 3-day event dubbed “Strengthening teamwork and nurturing mental and physical well-being” for the 1,171 workforce in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which aims to enhance synergy and coordination while promoting holistic well-being among all staff, including those assigned in the regional office and the city and municipal areas.

As part of the 3-day activity, the program presented its gains and accomplishments, including the provision of cash grants, the result of the social welfare and development indicator (SWDI), the program’s impact on the well-being of household beneficiaries, and partnerships with different stakeholders like national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), and civil society organizations (CSOs).

In her message to the 4Ps workers during the first day of the activity, DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero congratulated the field staff on their commitment, perseverance, and hard work on the program implementation. She underscored the resiliency of the DSWD workers in facing different challenges, highlighting the mantra of “Pagpakabana.”

In relation to the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the DSWD-7 also conducted a quiz bowl. This is a continuing effort to broaden the knowledge of DSWD-7 workers on the background history and laws protecting women and girls from violence.

One representative from each cluster in Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor participated in the quiz bowl, which had an easy, average, and difficult round. Nevien Siquira Mariz Dandoy from Negros Oriental South Cluster emerged as the winner of the quiz bee.

The 4Ps workers also underwent a wellness check, which assessed the eight dimensions of well-being, including emotional, environmental, physical, financial, intellectual, occupational, social, and spiritual.

Right after the wellness check activity, Fr. Rudyard Yonting officiated a Thanksgiving Mass. He was one of the pioneers in the 4Ps implementation in Region 7 and formerly worked as an IT officer.

The DSWD-7 took the opportunity to provide a caravan of services to 4Ps workers for them to avail services from various government agencies, namely the Social Security System (SSS), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and Pag-IBIG.

The active trainees of the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC) II also provided massage to those who wished to avail themselves of their service. The Social Welfare Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SWEMC) set up a booth for those who would like to be members of the cooperative.

The 4Ps, formerly known as the Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino, continue to serve as the flagship social protection program of the Philippine government, aimed at improving the health, nutrition, and education of poor households through conditional cash transfers as well as breaking the chain of intergenerational poverty. The program was institutionalized under Republic Act 11310, or the 4Ps Act, in 2019. ###

 

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