Partner Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 7 has ramped up its programs and services for exiting beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), sustaining their self-sufficiency level.

In line with the thrust and priorities of the 4Ps in the responsive complementary services through a strategic and sustained partnership with partner CSOs, national government agencies (NGAs), and local government units (LGUs), the DSWD Field Office 7 conducted its annual CSOs consultation dialogue.

This dialogue aimed to strengthen convergence and complementation among CSOs by committing to the convergence plan.

Part of the consultation dialogue was on the engagement of CSOs with the Department, along with four major areas: Bantay (watchdog), Gabay (mentor), Kaagapay (co-implementer), and Tulay (link).

Under DSWD’s engagement framework, the Bantay function allows DSWD and partners to cooperate in project implementation geared against corruption. Under Gabay, partnerships focus on enhancing the technical capacities of DSWD direct service providers by the partners with expertise in areas needing their technical assistance.

Kaagapay engages in partnerships in social welfare programs and project implementation that target a commonly agreed area, and Tulay intends to facilitate action, feedback, and monitoring of a specific program and area of implementation through the partner’s resources.

In the recent CSOs consultation dialogue in the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor, partner CSOs committed support for exiting 4Ps partner-beneficiaries.

The participating CSOs pledged to provide various services, including livelihood programs, skills training, scholarship, social advocacies, values formation, and spiritual enhancement.

For Negros Oriental province, the partner CSOs committed support for 2,436 4Ps households in 2025 and 770 4Ps households in 2026. The total committed amount reached Php 2,142,000.00.

The partner CSOs in Negros Oriental are the Little Children of the Philippines, Inc., Dumaguete Kalauman Center for Development, Inc., Silliman University Foundation, Bona Ruth (Avon Commercial), Inc., Katilingbanong Pagtagad Alang sa Kauswagan, Inc., BearMuch Fruit Ministries, Inc., International Care Ministries, Inc., and PNP MOST Moral, Foundation University and Spiritual Transformation.

For Siquijor province, CSO partners committed to providing their initiated programs and services to 2,765 and 1,403 households in 4Ps households in 2025 and 2026, respectively. The initial total amount committed reached Php 29,000.00.

The CSO partners in Siquijor are the following: Santa Barbara Katilingbanong Credit Cooperative, Siquijor Chamber of Commerce, National Auxiliary Chaplaincy Philippines, Inc. (NACPHIL), Regional DCCCO Multipurpose Cooperative Siquijor Branch, Carmelite College of Siquijor, Palawan Group of Companies, Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, Siquijor Rice Seed Growers Association, Siquijor Organic Farmers Practitioners Association, and the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

The Siquijor Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) also attended the activity.

Pastor Eulalio Bustillo from NACPHIL in Siquijor shared a story about a couple participating in the 4Ps in Lazi. “They were on the verge of separation due to disagreements regarding their child. However, after attending the monthly Family Development Session (FDS), they have reconciled and managed to resolve their family issues. It is one reason our strong commitment to supporting the 4Ps remains because we need to strengthen the bond of the family and they should be able to surpass whatever challenges they encounter,” said Pastor Eulalio Bustillo.

DSWD 7 will conduct a similar consultation dialogue in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

As part of the government’s whole-of-society approach, the DSWD has consistently partnered with civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community organizations to enhance the implementation of the 4Ps through their various programs, projects, and services.

The 4Ps, launched in 2008 and institutionalized in 2019 through Republic Act No. 11310, or the 4Ps Act, provide subsidies to the identified poor households whose children received education grants to finish elementary and senior high school, health grants, and rice subsidies. Its psychosocial and educational components through the Family Development Sessions (FDS) lead the beneficiaries to have improved and sustained well-being. ###