Around 5,000 beneficiaries of the government’s “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)” have waived their cash grants for others to benefit as their lives have dramatically improved, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Friday.
During the media forum at the Richville Hotel, Mandaluyong City, the DSWD presented several 4Ps beneficiaries, whose lives have been improved with the government cash grant program.
A 4Ps beneficiary, Irene Ramirez of Hermosa, Bataan, said their lives before the Pantawid was very different compared to what it is now.
“Kumakain lang ng karne kung Linggo. Sa gabi lang nagkakaroon ng masarap na ulam kasi sama-sama kami. Nanghihingi ng uniporme para sa mga anak namin (Only eat meat only on Sunday. We can only eat good dish only at night because we are together. Asked for uniforms for our children),” Ramirez said.
She added that her husband took every possible job he could get just to make ends meet.
“Kahit hindi nya alam, pinasok nya. Nagwelder sya para lang mabuhay nya kami. (He worked in a job that he even did not know. He became a welder so that they can live). Unfortunately, hindi tayo lahat ay nabibigyan ng oportunidad. (not all of us are given the opportunity),” Ramirez said.
In 2017, her family won the DSWD's “Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya”, pocketing PHP20,000 cash prize, which she invested in the rice selling business. Their investment grew to PHP100,000 in one year.
Another 4Ps beneficiary, Verdelor Oconer of Pasig City, expressed her gratitude to the Pantawid, noting that because of the cash grant program, they earned additional income for the allowance of their children and they were able to buy something for them.
“Iba ang may alam, sa walang alam. Dahil sa 4Ps, ang pinaka importante ang knowledge, na kung saan nalaman ko ang VAWC law. Kung papaano po-protektahan ang kababaihan, ang mga bata (It’s different to have knowledge compared to know nothing at all. Because of the 4Ps, the most important is the knowledge where I learned about the VAWC [Violence Against Women and their Children] law. On how to protect the women, the children),” Oconer said.
She added that they were given free scholarship at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). After studying cookery, she was able to go into her own bakery business.
She noted that under the 4Ps, she also developed her personal disposition and became a parent-leader who helped others for their personal development.
Ramirez, on the other other hand, advised other 4Ps families to never give up on their dreams and continuously study and hone their skills.
“Huwag po kayong mag-aaway sa maliiit na halaga dahil respeto ang mahalaga. Huwag kayong titigil mag-aral. Huwag tumigil mangarap. Huwag gawing hadlang ang kahirapan sa pagbabago (Don’t quarrel on small amount because respect is important. Don’t stop to learn. Don’t stop to dream. Don’t make poverty as a hindrance to development),” she said.
To date, there are around 168,000 parent leaders who are helping in the 4Ps nationwide.
Meanwhile, parent-leader Annaliza Hipolito of Manila said that with the help of the 4Ps program, her family managed to get a school service tricycle for their children.
“Binabudgetan ko pang tricycle service, umiiyak ako kasi wala akong maibigay na pera para sa project ng anak ko sa school. Sa pagkain, kahit konting budget, pero masustansya. Okay na ang health ng anak (I was budgeting for the tricycle service, I was crying because I had no money to give for the project of my child in the school. For food, even a little budget, but nutritious. My child’s health is already okay),” Hipolito said.
With the 4Ps help, Hipolito graduated college with a bachelor's degree in computer science at the Jose Rizal University, Mandaluyong City.
She was hired as a social welfare assistant at the DSWD-National Capital Region.
“Sinurender ko ang Pantawid, para naman sa iba pang beneficiaries (I surrendered the Pantawid, for the other beneficiaries),” Hipolito said. (Perfecto Raymundo, Jr./PNA)
