The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is encouraging its household-beneficiaries to actively participate in the midterm elections in May and exercise their right to suffrage.

“Hinihikayat natin ang ating mga 4Ps beneficiaries na talagang sumali o makilahok sa eleksyon kasi iyan ay karapatan nila,” Director Gemma Gabuya, 4Ps National Program Manager, said during the DSWD’s online program, “4Ps Fastbreak,” on Wednesday (February 12).

According to Director Gabuya, the 4Ps has incorporated voter’s education in the family development sessions (FDS) through the module on active citizenship.

“Talagang dito pinapaunawa naming kung ano ang eleksyon, bakit kailangan bumoto, ano yung mga procedures, ano yung kanilang rights, at kung paano sila mamili kung sino ang kanilang iboboto,” Director Gabuya explained.

The 4Ps also has an ongoing social media campaign in Facebook under the #Botanteng4Ps tag which promotes the 3M (Magbantay, Maki-alam, at Makilahok) among its grantees.

“So, alam naman natin na maraming mga challenges during election. Hindi naman natin maiiwasan yung mga issues on vote-buying so kailangan mismo sa pamilya nila o mismo sa mga kasamahan nila sa 4Ps at even in their community, so magbantay sila kung tama ba ang prosesong dinadaanan o talaga bang hindi sila mismo malalagay sa alanganin o magagamit,” the 4Ps national program manager pointed out.

Director Gabuya also warned 4Ps grantees against the proliferation of fake news during the electoral campaign season.

“Kailangan kung ano yung nakikita nila o nalalaman ay dapat tamang information. Hindi mga fake news na tulad nung sinasabi na pag hindi ka bumoto sa ganito ay tatanggalin ka sa 4Ps. So kailangan alam na alam nila na hindi ito ang tamang impormasyon,” Director Gabuya said.

Promoting active citizenship and combating fake news are aligned with the Marcos administration’s goal of achieving clean and honest elections.

The ‘4Ps Fastbreak’ is hosted by Information Officer Venus Balito of the Strategic Communications Group’s Digital Media Service (DMS) and is aired every Wednesday, 11 am, using the DSWD’s Facebook platform. (ADKL)