25 families in Laguna, graduated as beneficiaries of the Pantawid program

by Sentinel Times December 18, 2020 25 families from various towns in Laguna were...

by Sentinel Times
December 18, 2020

25 families from various towns in Laguna were recognized as graduates of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). (Photo from PIA-Laguna)

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna - Twenty-five families from various towns in Laguna were recognized for graduating as beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) at a gathering called 'Pugay Tagumpay,' held yesterday, December 9, 2020 at the municipal auditorium of Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

According to the Laguna Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), the 25 families came from the towns of Cavinti, Famy, Kalayaan, Liliw, Lumban, Magdalena, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Sta. Cruz, and Sta. Maria started as a beneficiary of 4Ps in 2012 and graduated by 2020.



"Matapos ang walong taon at base sa masusing assessment na isinagawa ng DSWD Region 4A kasama kami sa Laguna PSWDO at MSWDO, nakita at napatunayan namin na ang mga pamilyang ito ay pasado na, nakatawid na sila," Laguna PSWDO said.

Speaking as a guest of honor, DSWD Asec. Glenda De Rama Relova said that although the 25 families have graduated as beneficiaries of the 4Ps, the assistance that should be provided to them by the government through their respective local governments will continue.



Relova said that a beneficiary of 4Ps can be counted as finished or graduate when it is at level 3 based on the assessment conducted by the DSWD even though it is only 10 percent raised in the poverty line.

"Ang pinakamahalagang naipamana ng 4Ps sa mga benepisaryo ay ang pagdidisiplina sa mga anak at ang 'values,' na pagpapahalaga sa pag-aaral at kalusugan," Relova added.

Edna Lazarte of Barangay Galalan, Pangil, Laguna while giving her testimony of her experiences as a beneficiary of 4Ps for eight years, 2012-2020. (Photo & caption: PIA-Laguna)

A feature of the graduation program was the giving of a ‘brief testimony’ by representatives of some families on their experience as beneficiaries of 4Ps. Among those who testified was Bo's Lamagna family. Malabo-Kalantukan, Liliw; Bonza family of Bo. Sto. Angel Central Sta Cruz; Pacheco family of Bo. Longos, Freedom; Lazarte family; Bo. Galalan, Pangil; and Villanueva family of Bo. Pao-o, Sta. Maria.

Edna Lazarte of Barangay Galalan, Pangil, was one of the witnesses who testified that she was cooking and selling lumpia, had a son, and was abandoned by her husband and went with another woman younger than her.



"Sabi ng anak ko, paaano na ang aking pag-aaral, wala na si Tatay, wala na kayong katulong magluto, sa paghahanpabuhay?" Edna said.

Edna continued, she had hope when she found out that they were with the beneficiary of 4Ps where her son was able to afford and continue his high school education.

“Sa ngayon, nakapagtapos na ang anak ko ng K12 dahil sa 4Ps, sa ngayon, nasa kolehiyo na siya, kaya lubos ang pasasalamat ko sa DSWD, sa kanilang 4Ps.” Edna said.

Ang 4Ps ay naglalayong mapagbuti ang kalagayang pantao ng mga pinakamahihirap ng Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng kondisyona na tulong pinansiyal para sa kalusugan, nutrisyon, at edukasyon ng mga batang may edad 0 hanggang 18 gulang.

4Ps aims to improve the human condition of the poorest Filipinos by providing conditional financial assistance for the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0 to 18 years.

The financial assistance provided is P500 per family per month or a total of P6,000 annually for health finance and P300 per child per month for 10 months or a total of P3,000 annually.