DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) – Some 4,794 household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the province have made their exit from this program this year after achieving “self-sufficiency” status.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 7 (DSWD-7) determined their “self-sufficiency” status based on the level of their social adequacy and economic sufficiency, which are included in their social welfare indicator tool.
This month, some 200 4Ps beneficiaries joined the exit ceremony conducted by the DSWD-7 here.
DSWD presented some of the beneficiaries who have improved their level of well-being, marking a significant milestone on their path towards self-sufficiency.
“Ang nakanindot dinhi, ang nagpamatuod gyud na self-sufficient na sila economically kay ilang mga anak naka-graduate na, naay nay sakto na trabaho, naa pod kita, plus ang mga ginikanan mismo naa na silay mga negosyo ginagmay either as individual or as group,” said Jiah Sayson, the regional coordinator for 4Ps in Central Visayas.
(They are considered self-sufficient economically because they have children who already graduated from school and eventually got employed and the parents were able to establish small businesses either as individuals or as a group.)
Sayson highlighted that the households that have graduated from the program were able to establish savings accounts whether in cooperatives, personal ATM accounts, or group savings.
She said this is a good move because they were able to create an emergency fund, which they can use when a family member is sick or when emergencies occur.
Some of them, like Agnes Gramatica from Bindoy town, volunteered to be delisted from the program.
“Akoy nibolountaryo sa amoang municipal link sa Bindoy na mo-graduate na ko. Gawas kay 15 years nako sa programa dako na pod kaayo ang kahatag ang programa sa amo. Nakahatag ko insakto unsay angay dapat nako na panghinanglanon diha sa ilaha,” Gramatica said.
(I volunteered to be delisted from the program. I told my municipal link in Bindoy that I need to exit because aside from being a beneficiary for 15 years already, the program helps us a lot. I was able to provide the basic needs of my children.)
She recalled that before joining 4Ps, it was difficult for her family to avail of medical treatment from hospitals when their children fell sick. Gramatica added that after becoming a beneficiary of 4Ps, she was able to provide the basic needs of her two children, which contributed to the improvement of their health and well-being.
Aside from this, Gramatica opened a savings account for her children for their future needs.
“Mapasalamaton jud ko mo-exit sa Pantawid kay dako kaayo siyag gikatabang sa amoang pamilya. Pinaagi sa DSWD naabrehan ko og dakong opportunity,” Gramatica said.
(I leave the 4Ps program with gratitude because it helped a lot in the improvement of our family. A lot of opportunities also opened to me through this initiative of DSWD.)
Sayson also highlighted how the beneficiaries’ children were able to graduate from college through the help of the Pantawid Program. They graduated with honors and continue to perform well in the real world.
“Naa pod nakapasar sa LET exam, engineer(ing exam), customs (examination). So congratulations! Nagpamatuod ni nga kung naay nagsuporta, kung naay lig-on na pamilya, kung naay gobyerno na nagsuporta, masiguro nato ang kaugmaon sa atong mga kabatan-unan,” Sayson said.
(There are also beneficiaries who passed the LET exam, exam for engineers, and customs officers. Congratulations on this. This proves that our children can achieve a better future if there are right interventions: government support, strong family support, and support from partners.)
The DSWD-7 official assured that even though they are no longer part of 4Ps, the department will endorse them to their respective LGUs so that they can continue to avail of livelihood programs and services to sustain their economic status. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
