“Para sa isang pamilyang lumalakad sa lubid araw-araw, isang malaking biyaya ang maging kabahagi ng programang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program o 4Ps.” (For a family that faces challenges every day, being part of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is indeed a big blessing.)

This is how Dexter Astorga, a former 4Ps monitored child from Santo Tomas City in Batangas described his family’s journey to a better life with the anti-poverty flagship program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Growing up in a simple family, Dexter’s childhood was marked by financial hardship. His family lived by the phrase “isang kahig, isang tuka,” with just enough resources to get by each day.

Despite their financial struggles, Dexter’s parents worked tirelessly to provide for their family. His father, a coconut harvester and occasional construction worker, took on whatever jobs he could find.

“Mas’werte na kung may pag-eextrahan. Kung wala, tinutulungan muna s’ya ng kanyang mga kapatid para maitawid ang maghapon,” Dexter recalled on how his father’s siblings also helped their family. (It was lucky if there was extra work available. If not, his siblings helped him get through the day.)

Because of their humble condition, Dexter’s mother instilled in him a sense of contentment and gratitude for even the smallest blessings.

“Dahil sa kakapusan, itinanim ng aking ina sa aking pagkatao na kailangang maging kontento sa kung anong nakahain at palaging mapagpasalamat ultimo sa pinakamaliliit na biyaya,” Dexter said, reflecting on his childhood lessons. (My mother taught me to be contented with whatever was available and to always be thankful.)

For Dexter, living in poverty often meant sacrificing basic needs for his education.

“Nariyan ang mga araw na papasok ako nang walang laman ang tiyan sapagkat mas nananaig ang kagustuhang matuto kaysa sa pagkalam ng sikmura,” Dexter shared. (There were days when I went to school on an empty stomach because my desire to learn was stronger than my hunger.)

Yet, for families like theirs, the DSWD’s 4Ps became a beacon of hope.

Dexter’s family became one of the beneficiaries of the 4Ps, a program aimed at alleviating poverty by providing financial assistance to the poorest families.

Despite the initial stigma of being labeled as among the “poorest of the poor,” Dexter and his family were grateful for the program’s support. From elementary to senior high school, the program helped sustain Dexter’s education.

“Dahil sa buwanang cash assistance na natatanggap namin, ramdam kong nabawasan ang bigat ng pinansyal na pasanin ng aming pamilya,” Dexter continued. (Because of the monthly cash assistance we received, the financial burden on our family was lessened.)

Dexter’s hard work and perseverance paid off academically. He graduated as the Class Valedictorian in elementary and ranked third in his junior high school batch, with the honor of being the best in Mathematics. His achievements continued in senior high school, where he graduated with high honors and received the “Excellence Award in Pre-Calculus.”

Dexter’s gratitude extended beyond the financial aid provided by the 4Ps. The program’s Family Development Sessions (FDS) played a crucial role in strengthening their family.

“Noon, hindi lubos na nauunawaan ng musmos na batang tulad ko ang kahalagahan ng mga pulong na iyon. Ngunit ngayon, batid ko na ang mga Family Development Sessions na iyon ang nagpalakas sa aming pamilya. Dahil sa mga iyon, mas nauunawaan ng aking mga magulang kung paano maging responsableng miyembro ng komunidad at maging mga mabubuting pinuno sa aming tahanan. Ang FDS ang rason kung bakit mas naging malapit ang pamilya namin sa isa’t isa,” he explained.

(Back then, as a young child, I didn’t fully understand the importance of those meetings. But now, I know that those Family Development Sessions strengthened our family. Because of them, my parents better understood how to be responsible community members and good leaders in our home. The FDS sessions are the reason why our family became closer.)

Following Dexter’s graduation from senior high school, his participation in the 4Ps program as a monitored child came to a close. This motivated him to seek other ways to support his family. He took on a part-time job at a fast food restaurant, working nights to help with household expenses.

“Papikit-pikit man sa klase kinabukasan, batid kong ang paghihirap na aking pinagdadaanan ay para sa aming kinabukasan,” Dexter recalled. (Despite being sleepy in class the next day, I knew that my struggles were for the future of my family.)

With the help of a scholarship from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Dexter pursued a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) – Santo Tomas Branch. His hard work earned him several awards, including the “Extension Service Awardee for Extension Service” and the “Extra-Curricular Exemplary Awardee.”

After graduating from college, Dexter immediately sought employment to support his family, especially his father, whose health was deteriorating due to his job as a welder.

“Ang usok na nanggagaling sa dalawang bakal na pinagdidikit n’ya ang naging mitsa ng pagkakaroon n’ya ng sakit na hika. Kung minsan din ay hindi tumitigil ang pagluluha ng mata n’ya dahil sa malakas na kislap ng liwanag kapag nagwewelding,” Dexter shared. (The smoke from the metals he was welding caused him to develop asthma, and his eyes continue to be watery due to the bright light.)

Witnessing his father’s struggle drove Dexter to apply in various companies. However, as a fresh graduate with no experience, finding a job was a big challenge.

During his three-month job search, Dexter studied programming and web development to increase his market value. To sustain himself in Manila while reviewing for the board exam, he launched his own website to offer tutoring, programming, and web development services.

“Ang mga ibinabayad sa akin sa mga proyektong kinukumisyon ang naglagay ng laman sa aking sikmura at nakapagpapadala rin ako ng pera sa aking pamilya sa probinsya,” he said. (The payments I received from these commissioned projects filled my stomach and allowed me to send money to my family in the province.)

Balancing his review for the board exams and his freelance work was exhausting, but Dexter’s hard work and perseverance paid off. He emerged as the Top 1 in the Board Examinations for Electronics Technician last April.

In their oath-taking ceremony, he proudly stood as the topnotcher. His speech at the ceremony was a testament to his journey and the support he received along the way.

“Ang mga ngiti ng aking ama at ina habang ako ay nagsasalita sa entablado ay hindi lang nagbigay ng galak sa aking puso. Ito rin ang nagpaalala sa akin kung paano iginapang ng aming pamilya ang aming buhay sa tulong ng patuloy na diskarte at mga programa tulad ng mga scholarship at ng 4Ps. Tiyak akong ibang-iba ang kalalabasan ng aming buhay kung walang umagapay sa aming pamilya upang umalpas sa sumpa ng kahirapan,” Dexter recalled.

(The smiles on my parents’ faces as I spoke on stage not only brought joy to my heart but also reminded me of how our family struggled and persevered with the help of programs like scholarships and the 4Ps. I am certain that our lives would have turned out very differently without the support that helped our family rise from poverty.)

Today, Dexter works as a network engineer in a company based in Muntinlupa City.

Dexter’s diploma and professional license are more than just credentials—they symbolize the beginning of many more dreams for him and his family.

Dexter is just one of the more than 32,000 former 4Ps monitored children who have graduated from college since 2016.

He is also among the 6,000 graduates who have passed their respective board examinations, making them licensed teachers, engineers, architects, and midwives.

The 4Ps, one of the DSWD’s flagship programs, is a national poverty reduction strategy institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11310 or “An Act Institutionalizing Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)” signed on April 17, 2019.

As of May 31, there are 4.3 million household-beneficiaries nationwide that are receiving conditional cash grants under the program. #