The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 1 – Ilocos Region (DSWD FO 1) celebrates a major milestone as its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) has produced over 92,298 graduates since 2023. This is proof that the program goes beyond cash assistance by empowering poor household beneficiaries with appropriate knowledge and skills to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
“Marami na tayong mga 4Ps beneficiaries na nakapagtapos at nakakaambag na sa pagpapaunlad ng ating lipunan. Sila ang nagpapatunay na puwede talagang umahon mula sa kahirapan (Numerous 4Ps beneficiaries have already graduated, and are actively contributing and participating in the advancement of our community. They are proof that it is indeed possible to rise from poverty),” DSWD spokesperson Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao said in an interview on Saturday over the DSWD-Teleradyo partnership program, ‘Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan!’
One of the 4Ps household beneficiaries who graduated this year is Allen Rosh Fajelagmano from Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur.
“Malaki ang naitulong ng programa sa aming pamilya, hindi lang sa edukasyon, kundi pati sa pagpapagamot. Lalo na noong dalawang beses na na-hospital ang bunso kong anak, wala kaming binayaran kahit piso. Pero ang pinakamahalagang pamana sa amin ng programa ay ang mga natutunan namin sa buwanang Family Development Sessions (FDS). Sa loob ng pitong taon, malaki ang pagbabagong nangyari sa aming pamilya mula sa pagiging walang-wala, ngayon ay unti-unti nang gumaganda ang aming kalagayan (Our family has immensely benefited from the program in both medical and educational ways. Especially when my youngest child was hospitalized twice, we did not pay a single peso. However, the lessons I learned from the monthly FDS are the program’s most priceless legacy. Our family’s circumstances have changed significantly over the last seven years,, from having nothing, our situation is now gradually improving),” shared Allen.
Aside from one of her children graduating from college, Norilyn Valencia of Barangay Dalawa, Alilem, Ilocos Sur, claims that the other forms of support they received from the DSWD and the Local Government Unit (LGU) have also been very beneficial to their family. “Nakapagpatayo kami ng sariling bahay at napalago namin ang baboy na ibinigay sa amin [ng DSWD FO 1 Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP)] na ngayon ay nagsisilbing pangunahing pinagkukunan namin ng kabuhayan (We were able to construct our own home and grow the pig we were given [by the DSWD FO 1’s SLP], which has now become our primary source of income and helps us support our family.),” she added.
Under the 4Ps, household beneficiaries receive conditional cash grants for education, health, and nutrition, provided they comply with the program conditions such as regular health check-ups, school attendance, and participation in the monthly FDS. Before a household beneficiary exits the program, the DSWD prepares them to become self-sufficient. Beyond the conditional grants, the DSWD and the LGU work hand in hand to help them improve their standard of living.
The DSWD is committed to ensuring that household beneficiaries who will exit due to natural attrition or graduate due to improved level of well-being from the program will be assisted by their respective LGUs to sustain the gains of the 4Ps.