TARLAC CITY (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the City Government of Tarlac has provided about 691 graduate beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) with livelihood opportunities, housing assistance, skills training, and other support services to help them achieve self-sufficiency.
These interventions are designed to prepare former beneficiaries for life beyond the program by strengthening their capacity to earn a stable income, access essential services, and sustain their families’ needs independently.
DSWD Field Office 3 4Ps Division Chief Josephine Dela Tonga emphasized that the program aims not only to provide assistance but also to inspire beneficiaries to pursue lasting change in their lives.
“Ang gusto po ng 4Ps program ay magkaroon po tayo ng pagbabago ng kaisipan. Kaisipan na kaya nating tumawid sa kaunlaran, sa pamamagitan ng mga serbisyong naibigay sa atin at sa pamamagitan ng mga ahensiyang tumutugon sa ating mga pangangailangan (The 4Ps program aims to foster a change in the way we think. A mindset that we can achieve progress through the services and support provided to us by various agencies that respond to our needs),” she said.
Among the support services offered to the graduates were employment opportunities from government and private institutions, skills and training programs, as well as social and health services.
As additional assistance, the City Government of Tarlac announced that about 300 graduates will be given the opportunity to participate in the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, which aims to help beneficiaries establish and manage their own businesses.
Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap underscored the importance of maximizing the opportunities provided by the government to achieve long-term progress.
“Malaki ang naging tulong ng gobyerno sa kanilang buhay para siguraduhing mapag-aral nila, mapacheck up ang kanilang mga anak. Sana ito’y panghawakan nila para sa isang masaganang kinabukasan at maiahon nila ang kanilang sarili at pamilya sa kahirapan (The government has greatly helped improve their lives by ensuring that they can send their children to school and access healthcare services. I hope they will build on these opportunities to secure a prosperous future and lift themselves and their families out of poverty),” she stated.
Former 4Ps member Ed Leo Ann Mangaco shared how the program transformed their family’s situation during their seven years as beneficiaries.
She said the assistance enabled them to build a house of their own and ensure that their children could continue their education without financial worries.
“Malaki po ang pasasalamat ko sa 4Ps dahil napakalaking tulong po ito para baguhin ang aming buhay. Dahil po sa programa ng 4Ps, nagkaroon kami ng sustainable na pamumuhay ngayon (I am deeply grateful to the 4Ps because it has greatly helped transform our lives. Through the program, we now have a sustainable means of living),” Mangaco said.
In collaboration with various local government offices, national government agencies, and private institutions, the initiative supports the poverty reduction agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. by helping 4Ps graduates transition to sustainable livelihoods, improve their quality of life, and become active contributors to their communities and the local economy. (CLJD/AJRR, PIA Region 3-Tarlac)
