Over 800 4Ps beneficiaries ‘graduate’ in Ilocos Norte

By John Michael Mugas 

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—At least 823 beneficiaries in Ilocos Norte were evaluated as “self-sufficient” and had graduated from receiving assistance under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the national government, which was marked by “ceremonial graduation rites” on Dec. 13.
    “Hindi po rito nagtatapos ang tulong ng gobyerno sa inyo dahil nag-graduate na kayo. Marami pa po ang maaaring maitulong sa inyo ng Department of Social Welfare and Development [DSWD] tulad ng pangkabuhayan sa pamamagitan ng Sustainable Livelihood Program at tulong pinansyal gaya ng pampaaral at medikal,” said DSWD Sec. Erwin Tulfo in a message during the event held in San Nicolas town.
    (The assistance given by the government doesn’t end here just because you graduated. The DSWD will help you in a lot of ways, like livelihood through Sustainable Livelihood Program and financial, education and medical assistance.)
    The 4Ps is a national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program of the government that was institutionalized by former President Rodrigo Duterte when he signed Republic Act 11310 in April 2019.
    Before it was signed into law, the program was launched under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It was continued and also became the flagship poverty alleviation measure of Duterte’s predecessor, ex-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
    Under the law, conditional cash transfers are provided to “qualified poor households” for a maximum period of seven years to “improve the health, nutrition, and education aspects of their lives.”
    Those who graduated from the program on Tuesday were beneficiaries from the 23 towns and cities in Ilocos Norte, and were validated as “non-poor” for gaining “self-sufficiency” marks in September, the DSWD said in a statement.
    The regional DSWD also said in a separate statement that Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc has signed a “sustainability plan” to continuously assist the 823 graduates with the programs and services under the provincial government.
    Across the province, there are still 18,488 4Ps beneficiaries.