SIQUIJOR, Siquijor (PIA) -- Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) parent leader Antonietta Manos, 51, did not appreciate the value of saving money until she joined the 4Ps Family Development Sessions organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

After attending the sessions where financial literacy was discussed, Manos said she realized the importance of money management. 

“Gitudloan mi nga kinahanglan gyud magsavings. Gitudloan mi sa saktong pagdala sa kuarta,” said Manos from Brgy. Ponong, Siquijor during the recent Kukabildo/Kapihan sa PIA program. 

(We were taught about the importance of savings. We were taught how to manage money correctly.)

She was also able to apply what she learned about financial literacy to their piggery livelihood project in their barangay, which is assisted by the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

“Sa amoa sa Ponong, gapabilin pa to among livelihood nga baboyan. Naa mi kuarta. Gidugangan pa mi ug manokan. Kami ang nakadawat atong P2 million sa DA. Kalooy sa Dios okey ra kaayo ang dagan sa among proyekto. Nakabahin na pud mi,” Manos added.

(In our barangay, we manage a piggery livelihood project, so we handle the finances. We also have a poultry farm out of a P2-million financial aid from DA. Our projects are running smoothly. We have now received shares from its proceeds.)

Another 4Ps beneficiary, Fe Abendan, 43, from San Antonio, Siquijor, is also thankful to the FDS as it helped her not only in becoming a better mother but also in ensuring her family’s safety. 

“Kabahin sa mga bata, gi-encourage gyud mi nga paeskuylahon ug tarong. Naa pud mga pulis ug taga fire, niadto pud sila. Then, kaayuhan buya gyud tong ilang gisulti kabahin sa paglikay sa sunog, pagtinabangay ana,” she said.

(We are really encouraged to send our children to school. We also had talks from police and fire personnel during the FDS who taught us about fire prevention.) 

Essential life skill

DSWD has recently tapped a non-government organization (NGO) to teach financial literacy during the 4Ps FDS in the province. 

According to social welfare officer and 4Ps provincial link  Jeric Tarranza, DSWD has tapped Sta. Barbara Katilingbanong Credit Cooperative (SBKCC) to discuss how the beneficiaries can better manage their finances. 

“Kani gyud ang atoang partners sa paghatag ug financial literacy ug gi-engage pud nato atong mga beneficiary na mag-savings,” Tarranza said.

(They are our partners in providing financial literacy, as we encourage our beneficiaries to save money.)

Financial literacy is a life skill that 4PS beneficiaries need to acquire, according to Ian Fel Cabilao, SBKCC branch manager in Siquijor town.

“As one of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) partners of 4Ps, we teach financial literacy to our 4Ps beneficiaries, and we believe that this is an essential life skill that we should learn and nurture: the proper management of resources,” said Cabilao. 

He added that if a 4Ps beneficiary is financially literate, he or she can make better and more informed financial decisions to manage their wealth properly, including the cash grant they received from the government.

SBKCC personnel also visit different various 4Ps parent groups to lecture on financial literacy and basic bookkeeping for their livelihood projects.

Partnership for community development

The collaboration between DSWD and the SBKCC began in 2013, marking a significant milestone in the cooperative commitment to community development.

This partnership emerged when GCash and the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) sought a conduit for cash grants disbursement to 4Ps beneficiaries in Siquijor.

Given their existing partnership with GCash through cash-in and cash-out services, the cooperative readily accepted its business proposal.

“Today, we continue to facilitate cash grant payouts for 4Ps beneficiaries through LBP’s point-of-sale cash-out,” said Cabilao. 

DSWD and SBKCC formalized their partnership by signing a memorandum of agreement on June 30, 2023.(RAC/PIA7 Siquijor with reports from DSWD7)