ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA — A total of sixty eight (68) beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) were recently hired as City/Municipal Links (C/MLs) who will implement the program in the locality. These beneficiaries have previously been monitored children of the program until they finished high school. Now Registered Social Workers, these former beneficiaries will become case managers of the current beneficiaries of the 4Ps who will help alleviate the level of well-being of the poor households in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Rosemarie S. Lubenario, 28, recalls the struggle she and her family went through before they became 4Ps members. Growing up in the farm, Rosemarie has witnessed how her father endured the scorching heat of the sun to be able to provide for his eight (8) children and his sickly wife. Before 4Ps, their family could hardly sustain even for their daily consumption. “Bisan bugas lisod kaayo,” Rosemarie said.

Like many poor Filipino families, poverty has affected the education of Lubenario children. Rosemarie and her eldest sister had to stop schooling to give way  for the other siblings to somehow experience proper education.

“Naka-stop ako sa eskwela. Perti jud ko hilak. Na-discouraged ko, nasakitan ako nga ma-behind ko sa akoang mga classmate. (I had to stop schooling. I sobbed. I was discouraged, I was hurt that I will be left behind by my classmates),” Rosemarie added.

Rosemarie is one of the 68 beneficiaries and 232 other social workers that attended the orientation on the 4Ps program as field implementers last April 17-29. The objective of the orientation is to ensure a unified understanding of the 4Ps program and enlighten the newly-hired employees as to the mandate of the Department and the program as well as what are expected of them.

Currently, the 4Ps holds the largest workforce of the Department in Zamboanga Peninsula with 1,343 employees across the region. Each handles approximately 300-800 families. This additional workforce will allow the Department to lower the number of caseloads of each city/municipal link therefore ensuring better quality of service in terms of case management.

The newly-hired 4Ps employees will be deployed in their areas of assignment after the orientation.