“Wala nang 4Ps dito sa San Juan pagdating ng tamang panahon dahil nakatawid na po sila mula sa kahirapan (At the right time, there will be no more 4Ps in San Juan because they will reach self-sufficiency)”- this is a bold declaration made by San Juan, La Union Mayor Arturo P. Valdriz (photo) after being hailed as the Regional Winner in the 2023 Search for Model LGU implementing the 4Ps. He is optimistic that in no time, the municipality will be finally free from poverty.
Mayor Valdriz strongly believes that by championing 4Ps, LGU’s commitment will not falter in uplifting the lives of poor households through reinforcing the social services, initiatives, and strategies.
The 4Ps implementation in San Juan began in 2012 when the poverty incidence was at 19.2%, making the municipality one of the extremely vulnerable areas in Region 1. The LGU then started to focus its efforts at the grassroots. With the efforts of the LGU to elevate the poverty incidence, the 4Ps household beneficiaries were enabled to become more self-reliant and active contributors to the community’s development. Numerous activities, programs, and projects have been successfully carried out based on the LGU’s Sustainable Plan, to support the exiting and graduating 4Ps household beneficiaries. This is to warrant that the 4Ps household beneficiaries will never slide back to poverty.
This 2024, the LGU allocated a total budget of PhP400,00.00 to support 4Ps implementation as reflected in their Annual Investment Plan. A Youth Development Council was also created to promote social awareness and responsibility among youth. Showing genuine concern to the non-compliant beneficiaries and Children Not Attending School, counselling sessions by partner Civil Society Organizations are regularly conducted as an immediate intervention for Bata Balik Eskwela. The venues for the conduct of Family and Youth Development Sessions are ensured to be conducive for leaning among 4Ps household beneficiaries through developing multi-purpose auditoriums in various barangays. With the improved Barangay Health Stations, all residents of San Juan seeking health and wellness programs are well accommodated. Per report of the Municipal Health Office, there were no maternal death and infant mortality since 2023. Child Development Center facilities were also established to address high enrolment rate of learners.
Mayor Valdriz himself proactively initiates the conduct of consultation meetings along with the planning and monitoring of 4Ps-related activities. Thus, the LGU has institutionalized the monthly conduct of Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meetings where 15 resolutions were immediately passed to ensure smooth flow of the 4Ps implementation in the municipality. In fact, they are consistently awarded for having the Most Institutionalized Municipal Advisory Council meeting during the year-end 4Ps Program Implementation Review.
Moreover, the conduct of offsite meetings is one of the LGU’s strategies to encourage creativity and foster a stronger sense of unity and camaraderie among MAC members. Currently, San Juan is the only LGU in Region 1 with such initiative geared towards achieving the common goal of improving the quality of life among 4Ps household beneficiaries.
The LGU takes pride in serving the 4Ps household beneficiaries as it always looks forward to a more progressive San Juan. Through the 4Ps, strongly supported with convergence, household beneficiaries now have more courage and confidence to bid farewell to the program. (by: Jaesem Ryan A. Gaces, 4Ps Information Officer- Social Marketing Unit)
