The DSWD Field Office 1 – Ilocos Region 4Ps Division in partnership with the Provincial Government of Pangasinan and PhilHealth Regional Office 1 conducted the first ever Parent Leaders’ Summit 2024 at Sison Auditorium, Lingayen, Pangasinan to strengthen the sense of leadership among the newly elected PLs in the province of Pangasinan.
The Parent Leaders (PLs) have been the 4Ps arms and feet in linking the program to household beneficiaries. Consistently, they walk the extra mile in performing tasks beyond what they have, over and above compensation.
4Ps Division conducted a massive election of PLs to replace with who reached more than three years of voluntary service to their respective Parent Groups during the Summit and in time with the 16th year of program implementation in Region 1. This is to empower other 4Ps household beneficiaries to become leaders, and be given the chance to lead their own Parent Groups.
During the activity, the knowledge and understanding of the 1,000 newly elected Parent Leaders was deepen through a discussion of the salient provisions of the Republic Act No. 11310 or 4Ps Act. Also, the basics of leadership and the roles and responsibilities of PLs were elaborated.
Rachel Repato, a former Parent Leader and now a Municipal Link of Calasiao, Pangasinan claimed, “Naniniwala ako na leadership is the capacity to translate a vision into reality. Babaunin ko ang mga natutuhan ko sa Parent Leaders’ Summit sa pagbalik ko sa aming lugar upang makatulong pa lalo sa benepisyaryo ng programa (I believe that leadership is the capacity to translate a vision into reality. I will apply what I learned at the Parent Leaders’ Summit when I return to our area to help the beneficiaries of the program even more).”
One of the newly-elected Parent Leaders of Lingayen, Pangasinan Florenda Sablaya said, “Bukod sa pagiging isang mabuting Parent Leader, napagtanto kong maaari rin pala akong maging isang mabuting mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng pagbabahagi ng aking kaalaman sa kapwa ko Parent Leader at mga benepisyaryo (Besides being a good Parent Leader, I realized that I can also be a good citizen by sharing my knowledge with my fellow Parent Leaders and beneficiaries).”
Basic knowledge on forming an association was imparted during the summit to capacitate PLs in the formation of legitimate associations that will open new doors of opportunities. Registration and how to access the Konsulta Program and e-Konsulta were also presented by the representatives of Philhealth and Pangasinan Provincial Department of Health Office, respectively.
DSWD Field Office 1 Regional Director Marie Angela S. Gopalan affirmed the transformation from mere 4Ps household beneficiaries into empowered Parent Leaders. “Malayo na ang inyong narating. Tuloy-tuloy na po iyan kung hindi ninyo pababayaan ang inyong nakuhang kaalaman at kasanayan dahil ito ang mag-aalpas sa inyo sa kahirapan (You have come a long way. This will continue if you will not abandon the knowledge and skills you have acquired because these will lift you out of poverty),” RD Gopalan shared. (by: Renniel Paul Raquepo, 4Ps Family Development Session Focal Person)
