The Institutional Partnership Division (IPD), under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), continues to strengthen its partnership with national government agencies for a collaborative approach to poverty alleviation. As practiced, it has been observed that the collaboration of efforts yields to an improved level of wellbeing of the 4Ps beneficiaries thus enabling them to escape the vicious cycle of poverty which is the main goal of the 4Ps program.

In view of the above, the IPD, with the support of the Social Marketing Unit (SMU), conducted an agency visit and information caravan with partner-stakeholders to discuss matters related to the delivery of social services to the members of the country’s conditional cash transfer program.

Last August 14-18, 4Ps personnel started the agency visit with four (4) of the main partners of 4Ps in serving the poor sector. The 4Ps employees travelled to Pagadian to meet with the Regional Directors of the Department of Education (DepEd) and TESDA, and focals from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Agriculture (DA).

During the visit with the DepEd, issues on 4Ps children were tackled particularly on the number of drop-outs in school. The visit paved a way to discuss interventions and strategies that may be used to increase and/or sustain the participation and attendance of children.

As per implementing rules and regulations of the 4Ps, a household shall only be granted cash aid provided that they comply with the set conditions. For educational grant, a 4Ps pupil/student must be able to attain at least 85% attendance rate in school.

DepEd Regional Director, Dr. Ruth Fuentes said that the DepEd will continue to support the interventions and implementation of the 4Ps program as DSWD’s partner.

DSWD also visited the DA to personally acknowledge and recognize the provision of social services to the 4Ps beneficiaries by the Department. According to Mr. Jose Jacinto Antonio, many of the recipients of their services are identified 4Ps beneficiaries.

Based on reports, there were 66,320 4Ps members that benefitted from DA’s programs such as assistance from DA-BFAR, various support services, rice program, corn and cassava program, livestock program, organic agriculture program, and others.

In light of the issues on children and youth not attending school, the DA aims to target young individuals who will be organized through their young farmers program and 4H Club. This young farmers’ club must be recognized by their respective LGUs.

As part of the agency visit, the 4Ps personnel joined the TESDA in the celebration of their founding anniversary and launching of the Barangay Access to Skills and Scholarship Opportunities (BASSO) and TESDA Serbisyong Mabilis (Serbilis).

TESDA Regional Director, Dir. Tarhata S. Mapandi, CESO III, raised the partnership between the DSWD and TESDA particularly in the implementation of the Partnership in Sustainable Living or PSL.

The PSL is a partnership between the DSWD and the TESDA that aims to provide training for livelihood to 4Ps beneficiaries. There are a total of 27 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Molave and Bayog (ZDS), Siayan (ZDN), and Buug (ZSP) amounting to PHP 1,545,000.00

As of this writing, there are reported 3,928 4Ps beneficiaries who have acquired National Certificates from TESDA.

In a meeting with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the DSWD team discussed the implementation of the Joint Memorandum Circular 001-2022.