COTABATO CITY—A total of 167 graduates of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Sultan Mastura, Parang, and Upi in Maguindanao del Norte received their capital grants worth Php15,000.00 each on Oct.24.
The graduates, who benefitted from the said program, were recognized in a ceremony dubbed Pugay Tagumpay.
4Ps is a human development measure of the Philippine government, which provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor to improve the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0-18.
BARMM’s Social Services and Development Minister Atty. Raissa Jajuire and National Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) officials led the distribution of certificates of recognition and cash assistance to the grantees.
The cash aid was under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). SLP is one of the nationally funded social protection programs implemented by the MSSD in the Bangsamoro region. It seeks to improve the socioeconomic well-being of vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Jajurie congratulated the graduates and emphasized that the Ministry’s engagement with them has not ended despite their graduation.
“Sana po ay natulungan tayo ng programang ito sa iba’t ibang aspeto upang umangat ang ating kalagayan sa buhay. Binabati rin natin ang mga magulang na may mga anak na sa loob ng ilang taon ay nakabenepisyo sa programa,” she added.
The graduates thanked the Bangsamoro Government and National Government for helping the Bangsamoro people by uplifting their lives.
Student beneficiary Sunshine Pearl C. Ariston, Grade 12 and a resident of Upi in the said province, said, “sa lahat po ng gaya ko na estudyante, huwag po natin sayangin ang lahat ng tulong na ating natanggap. Mag aral po tayong mabuti upang tayo’y makapagtapos sa pag-aaral at maabot natin ang ating pangarap sa buhay.”
Another 4Ps graduate, Elizabeth Diocolano, 52, a food vendor and resident of DOS, Maguindanao del Norte, said, “napawi po yung lahat ng pagod at sakripisyo namin nang makapagtapos yung anak ko nitong July 2022 sa Kursong Criminology.”
Meanwhile, the 4Ps Director Gemma Gabuya assured that the national government will continue to assist the Bangsamoro people through the different programs.
According to her, out of 4.4 million 4Ps members, a significant portion of which are from the Bangsamoro region. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
