Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian shared some good news to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) during the 4Ps National Family Day celebration at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Multipurpose Gym on Wednesday (October 25).

Sec. Gatchalian underscored the continuing efforts of the Department in improving the implementation of the 4Ps including cleaning the list of beneficiaries and introducing new modules for the Family Development Sessions (FDS).

“Kailangan masiguro natin iyong mga dapat bahagi ng 4Ps, bahagi pa rin ng 4Ps, iyong mga hindi na dapat bahagi ng 4Ps like gumanda na ang buhay mapa-graduate na natin para iyong mga nag-aantay na maging bahagi ng programa ay makapasok naman,” Sec. Gatchalian said.

(We need to ensure that those who should be part of the 4Ps program will remain in it, while those whose lives have improved to the point where they can graduate from the program can do so. This way, those who are waiting to become part of the program can have the opportunity to join.)

The DSWD chief mentioned that around 1.1 million 4Ps households, who were delisted from the program, will now be included anew in the list of the program beneficiaries and will continue to receive their grants.

“Nag-iba ang antas ng buhay pagkatapos ng COVID. Alam natin na ang kahirapan iba ang mukha noon, at iba na ang mukha ng kahirapan ngayon,” Sec. Gatchalian said, noting that the global health crisis posed a significant effect to the lives of the beneficiaries.

(The quality of life has changed after COVID. We know that poverty had a different face back then, and it looks different now.)

According to the DSWD chief, the 4Ps-National Program Management Office, through its regional counterparts, continues the re-assessment using the Social Welfare and Development Indicator (SWDI) to identify the current living conditions of the 4Ps beneficiaries.

“Ang aming ginagarantiya sa inyo ay lalo naming sisiguraduhin na iyong listahan ay accurate, maayos at maka-capture ang mukha ng kahirapan para matulungan natin ang ating mga kababayan,” Sec. Gatchalian added.

(We guarantee you that we will make sure that the list is accurate, well-organized, and effectively captures the face of poverty so that we can help our fellow countrymen.)

The Secretary also said that the DSWD will introduce new FDS modules to further improve the skills and literacy of the beneficiaries, including digital financial literacy.

4Ps members will be taught to open and maintain a savings account and provide them with other modalities in achieving financial inclusion such as e-wallets, the DSWD chief noted.

“Gusto natin mayroon silang flexibility o may abilidad sila na makagamit ng bago pang financial instruments para sa kanilang grants,” Sec. Gatchalian said.

(We want them to have the flexibility and the ability to use new financial instruments for their grants.)

During the celebration, Sec. Gatchalian also recognized the 17 Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya winners from the different regions in the country, who exhibited strong family ties and carried out exemplary practices and achievements that created a positive impact and promoted empowerment to their families and communities.

Each winner received a plaque of recognition and cash incentive of Php10,000, on top of the other prizes provided by their respective DSWD Field Offices.

Five winners of the story writing contest dubbed as Salaysay ng Buhay ng Pamilyang Pantawid were also awarded by the DSWD chief with a plaque of recognition and cash prizes from Php5,000 to Php15,000.

The writing contest was aimed at capturing the inspiring stories of the 4Ps household-beneficiaries written by the families themselves.

During the awarding ceremony, Sec. Gatchalian was assisted by Undersecretary for National Household Targeting System and 4Ps Vilma B. Cabrera, 4Ps National Program Manager and Director Gemma Gabuya, and Director Shayne Purugganan. #