CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga (PIA) — After being assessed to have attained economic stability, a total of 2,841 beneficiary households of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Kalinga graduated from the poverty reduction program.
The figure includes 1,137 households in Tabuk City, 217 in Balbalan, 257 in Lubuagan, 123 in Pasil, 510 in Pinukpuk, 285 in Rizal, 90 in Tanudan, and 223 in Tinglayan.
The families qualified to exit the program after reaching the self-sufficient status or level three category in the Social Welfare and Development Indicator or SWDI assessment conducted in 2023.
“Ang example ng level three na 4Ps graduate is at least diay maibaga tayo nga ada ti napa-graduate na nga annak nan ti college, isa yon sa mga indicator, and at least meron narin silang regular source of income na ‘yun yung importante nga kitaen tayo, either through ‘yung employment nila or [other sources of income],” said Ritz B. Aquino of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Kalinga.
[An example of level three 4Ps graduate is at least the family has a child that has graduated college, that is one of the indicators. Also, at least they have a regular source of income either through their employment or other sources of income. That’s an important thing to consider.]
As part of the SWDI assessment, the beneficiaries were also evaluated on their social awareness, disaster preparedness, and overall living condition.
“Tinitingnan din pati ‘yung structure ng bahay nila, ‘yung sa CR nila, kung meron silang accessibility, yung tubig nila,” Aquino said.
[We also check the structure of the house, their CR, if they have accessibility, their water.]
The DSWD-Kalinga celebrated the milestone of the beneficiaries through the conduct of the “Pugay Tagumpay” in each municipality wherein beneficiaries with exemplary compliance to the program are recognized with the Huwarang Pamilya and Exemplary Child awards.
“Para at least makita din ni LGU na may mga napapa-graduate tayo na 4Ps gapu ta mimmayat met ti kinasasaad ti panagbiyag da,” Aquino said.
[This is also for the LGUs to see that we have families who have graduated from 4Ps because their status of life has improved.]
The Pugay Tagumpay also marks the turnover of the beneficiaries to their respective local government units for monitoring.
“Ite-turnover natin sa LGU para i-monitor din sila ng LGU nga haan da manen nga ag-regress or agsubli ti level two or level one,” Aquino said.
[We turn over the 4Ps graduates to LGU for monitoring so that they will not regress or go back to level two or level one.]
Among the households uplifted by the 4Ps program in Kalinga is the family of Rosalina A. Tamolnoc in Barangay Lower Lubo in Tanudan.
Thanks to the 4Ps, three of Tamolnoc’s children were able to graduate from college with two of them now employed as police officers while the other works as a job order employee at the municipal hall.
“Diay naited na nga tulong ket inusar mi nga panag-eskwela ti ubbing. Mapanak makilaba or makilako idiay Bulanao ket ni lakay ko makipurdiya met ti talon ti sabali nga tao tapnu adda inayun mi idiay inted ti 4Ps nga pang-eskwela dagitoy annak mi,” Tamolnoc shared.
[We used the financial assistance for the schooling of our children. I accept laundry or go sell at Bulanao while my husband goes to work in the farms of other people for additional money to augment the school needs of our children.]
“Agpasalamatak ti nagtulong ti 4Ps kanyami idi agis-eskwela amin dagitoy annak ko. Tattan ket agtatrabaho dan sunga dakkel ti panagyaman ko ti 4Ps,” Tamolnoc said.
[I am grateful to the 4Ps which helped us send our children to school. They are now employed, so I am so thankful to the 4Ps.]
Under the 4Ps program, beneficiary households get P300 a month for each child enrolled in elementary school; P500 a month for each child in junior high school; and P700 a month for each child enrolled in senior high school. They also receive P750 monthly health and nutrition grants and a P600 monthly rice subsidy.
Kalinga currently has 8,567 active beneficiaries of the 4Ps program. (IOS-PIA Kalinga)
