“I salute you! Itultuloyyo ti pannakikaykaysayo kadagiti ganwat ti ilitayo. Dakayo dagiti maysa a kaaktibuan nga umili (Continue supporting the thrusts of our town. You are one of the most active citizens),” Municipal Vice Mayor Monico O. Oriente, Jr. expressed in his message during the Pantawid Pamilya Graduation Ceremony in Santol, La Union with the theme, “Pagkilala at Pagpapakilala sa mga Nagtapos bilang Benepisiyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya”.

A total of 53 household beneficiaries (22 exiting households and 31 graduating households) received Katibayan ng Pagkilala to recognize their commitment in improving their level of well-being and simple token from the Pantawid Pamilya Regional Program Management Office and Local Government Unit (LGU) of Santol.

DSWD Field Office 1 Regional Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo represented by Specialized Programs Division OIC-Chief Virginia P. Sesay endorsed the graduates to the LGU. She said, “Atiddugenyo ti anusyo para ti pagsayaatan ti annakyo. Ti kinapanglaw ket mabalin a sukatan, isu a tulungan tayo ti bagbagitayo. Ti umuna a mangbaliw ti panagbiag ket diay met lang maseknan (Be more patient for the welfare of your children. The state of being poor can be changed so we have to help ourselves. The concerned individual is the first to change one’s way of life).”

Municipal Mayor Magno A. Wailan encouraged the graduates to maximize the programs and services of the LGU which suit their needs to continuously improve their level of well-being. He passionately relayed this in his acceptance speech and assured the graduates of prompt service to cater their needs. He is also hoping that all children in the locality will finish their studies because they are the next leaders who will promote progress in their town thus, his all-out support to the implementation of 4Ps.

Parent Leader Advocate Esmeralda Oriente from Brgy. Poblacion proudly shared that with the aid of 4Ps, her children are now professionals making her confident that their quality of lives shall be continuously improved. She also testified that she will never forget her learnings from the Family Development Sessions (FDS).

The exiting and graduating household beneficiaries were identified by the case managers anchored on Republic Act No. 11310 or 4Ps Law. Graduating household beneficiaries have reached self-sufficiency level who voluntarily waived from the program. A household shall exit from the program when they meet any of these criteria: the last monitored child turns 19 years old and finishes high school; reaches 7-year duration in the program; no longer poor based on Listahanan result; voluntarily waives from the program; and commits offenses leading to delisting. (by: Jaesem Ryan A. Gaces, Information Officer II / Pantawid Pamilya)