The Department of Social Welfare and Development revealed the names of program beneficiaries who are now the new faces and ambassadors of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Zamboanga Peninsula. These beneficiaries were awarded as this year’s Regional Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya and Exemplary Pantawid Children in a ceremony held today at LM Hotel, Tetuan, Zamboanga City.

Duraydo Family from Patalon, Zamboanga City will represent the region in the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya National Family week celebration on October 27-31 while Erich Pabilona, a 14-year-old young lady from the municipality of Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay Province is the region’s Exemplary 4Ps Child and will represent Zamboanga Peninsula in the National Children’s Congress (NCC) along with other provincial exemplary 4Ps children in Cebu City next month.

In brief introduction, Duraydo Family started from the lowest level of well-being before they became members of the 4Ps program. Armando, the household head, was a garbage collector, delivery boy, security guard, hollowblock-maker, canvasser, pedicab and habal driver, and fruit vendor while his wife, Arlene, was a laundrywoman, a house-helper, and a vendor. Now, they are proud owners of a hardware store. They are currently building their 2-storey house. They are also scheduled for exit from the program since they are now a self-sufficient family. As of today, both Armando and Arlene, have just graduated from Junior High School through DepEd’s Alternative Learning System (ALS). They are now enrolled in Senior High School.

“This is a proof of the transformative effect of the 4Ps in the lives of its beneficiaries. The 4Ps advocates for behavioral change and we are happy to know that the poor 4Ps families see the value of education and health and ultimately are able to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty,” says DSWD-9 Regional Director Riduan P. Hadjimuddin.

On the other hand, Erich Pabilona, advocates helping other 4Ps children especially those who are having difficulties in their academics. This trait is deemed exemplary and is worth-emulating therefore making Erich an outstanding 4Ps child.

The roles of the 4Ps ambassadors include communicating the messages of the Department and showcasing the gains of the 4Ps program by sharing their stories of success.

Gracing the awarding ceremony was no less than the Assistant Regional Director for Operations of DSWD-9, Ma. Socorro S. Macaso, 4Ps Regional Program Coordinator Flordeliza A. Atuy, partner from the Department of Education, Dr. Dolores Salvador, head of Non-Government Organization, Unbound, Rhodora Partosa, and other members of the 4Ps under the Indigenous Peoples group.

The winning regional Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya received Php10,000 cash while the exemplary child received Php5,000 cash prize.