Six (6) former children-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from Central Visayas have brought pride to the region after securing top ranks in the September and November 2025 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), affirming the life-changing impact of sustained government support and access to quality education.
At the elementary level, Marjoe Mejias from Mandaue City achieved a Top 4 ranking, while Clyde Zeph Payusan from Dalaguete, Cebu, secured a Top 9 position nationwide.
Meanwhile, four former 4Ps beneficiaries excelled in the Secondary Level Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). Jake Pradilla from Medellin, Cebu, achieved a Top 9 ranking, along with Clara Mae Tangpos from Dalaguete, Cebu, who also secured a Top 9 position. Additionally, Leendon Gelborion from Argao, Cebu, and Niño Sanchez from Buenavista, Bohol, both ranked within the Top 10.
“We are incredibly proud of our former 4Ps children who have become topnotchers in the recent results of LET,” said DSWD Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero. “Their achievements demonstrate how programs like 4Ps empower children to overcome challenges, pursue education, and realize their dreams. They are living proof that when we invest in our youth, we are investing in the future of our nation.”
Mejias shared that his success is a milestone he dedicates to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the 4Ps.
“Achieving my goal as a board exam topnotcher is a milestone I share with the DSWD and the 4Ps. Thank you for investing in my potential and providing a safety net during difficult times. My journey as a proud beneficiary constantly inspires my pursuit of excellence; I view my education as a way to give back. By equipping myself with the values of an educator, someday, I hope to help children who face the same difficulties I once did,” she said.
She added that the program’s support went beyond financial assistance.
“I am deeply grateful to 4Ps for assisting with everything from necessities to school-related expenses. Your support inspired me to dream big. This success is a testament to what happens when someone believes in a student’s dream,” she added.
Mejias also expressed appreciation for those who worked directly with beneficiaries at the grassroots level, including the 4Ps City and Municipal Links.
For his part, Niño Sanchez reflected on the challenges he faced growing up and how the 4Ps helped sustain his educational journey.
“Coming from a humble family, with a carpenter father and a housewife mother, pursuing higher education has never been easy. There were truly moments when financial limitations made my dreams seem uncertain and difficult to achieve. However, the continuous support of the 4Ps gave me hope, strength, and the opportunity to continue my studies despite those circumstances,” he said.
Sanchez emphasized that his achievement is a shared success with the program.
“Through the support of 4Ps, I not only finished my studies. I also achieved one of the greatest milestones of my life—becoming a topnotcher in the Licensure Examination for Teachers. This achievement is not mine alone; it is a shared success with the 4Ps, which believed in families like ours,” he added.
He concluded by expressing his lasting gratitude and commitment to render service as an educator.
The DSWD Field Office 7 noted that these achievements highlight the long-term outcomes of the 4Ps, the national government’s flagship poverty reduction initiative managed by the DSWD and partner stakeholders.
The program provides conditional cash grants, conducts family development sessions, and offers close monitoring in education and health. These initiatives help ensure that children from disadvantaged households can remain in school, finish their education, and pursue professional careers.
The six newly licensed teachers now stand as powerful symbols of hope for current 4Ps student beneficiaries—proof that with perseverance, guidance, and meaningful government intervention, dreams can rise beyond poverty and shape the nation’s future. ###