Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reiterated on Tuesday (July 23) the vital role that the whole-of-government approach plays in sustaining the gains of households that have exited from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“In fact the President has directed us to apply the whole-of-government approach. We all know that when they graduate from the 4Ps program, they are still vulnerable. They are in that near-poor category and one shock can spiral them back into poverty,” Secretary Gatchalian said during the Post-SONA Discussions on Health and Social Welfare Protection in Pasay City.

In his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday (July 22), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr happily announced that 420,000 households have already graduated from the 4Ps.

“Mula noong nakaraang SONA, mahigit apat na raan at dalawampung libong pamilya ang naka-graduate sa programa. Ibig sabihin, sa tulong ng 4Ps, mas gumanda na ang kanilang kalagayan at kakayahang makipagsapalaran sa laban ng buhay,” the President said in his well-applauded speech.

As part of the whole-of-government approach, Secretary Gatchalian said the DSWD has made linkages with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills development Authority (TESDA) for employment opportunities of the heads of families or adults in 4Ps households so that they can continue their trajectory out of poverty.

Secretary Gatchalian said the President also instructed the DSWD to work with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to make sure that the student-graduates of 4Ps household will have preferential treatments as they go to colleges, institutions or vocational-technological schools.

“Our goal here is to make sure that we can break the intergenerational cycle of poverty in their families through their children’s diplomas,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.

In the Post-SONA Discussions, Secretary Gatchalian was asked about the DSWD’s plan for the 4Ps graduates.

In response, the DSWD chief said the agency’s goal is for these families to sustain their gains and not to slip back into poverty.

Secretary Gatchalian said families who undergo unexpected crisis like death or sickness in the family can come to the DSWD and avail of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

The DSWD chief added that the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) can also serve as crutches for 4Ps household graduates.

“We want to make sure that we instill the spirit of entrepreneurship in the homemakers or breadwinners of the families,” Secretary Gatchalian said.#