BY NYARIKA DOMANAIS
ILOILO City – The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) benefits 361,756 families in Western Visayas as of this 2024.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6, the distribution of beneficiaries is as follows:
* 30,158 families in Aklan
* 28,770 families in Antique
* 37,262 families in Capiz
* 8,788 families in Guimaras
* 97,248 families in Iloilo
* 11,571 families in Iloilo City
* 138,722 families in Negros Occidental
* 11,275 families in Bacolod City
“We have achieved significant success through the implementation of 4Ps. The compliance rate for education among 4Ps children is at 89.72 percent, indicating that many children are able to attend school with the help of the national government,” said Atty. Carmelo Nochete, director of DSWD-6.
Nochete also highlighted the high compliance rates in other areas of the program – 96.82 percent for Family Development Sessions and a 97.40 percent for deworming, ensuring better health outcomes for young children.
To prevent an intergenerational cycle of poverty, DSWD-6 has established a system to provide aftercare services through local government units (LGUs) for families exiting the program.
“We have a well-structured system. Whenever a family exits the 4Ps, we turn them over to the LGU for aftercare services to ensure they receive all necessary support to avoid falling back into poverty,” Nochete explained.
Additionally, these beneficiaries are prioritized for the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), a capacity-building initiative aimed at improving the socioeconomic conditions of poor and vulnerable sectors by providing them with livelihood opportunities.
“The Sustainable Livelihood Program is a capacity-building program designed to improve the socio-economic conditions of poor and vulnerable sectors and communities by providing them with means of livelihood,” Nochete added.
Nochete also noted that the 4Ps program has enabled many beneficiaries to graduate and pursue careers as teachers, social workers, engineers, and other professions, demonstrating the program’s long-term impact on improving lives./PN
