It is always emphasized that neither the 4Ps nor the DSWD can solve poverty alone. It needs the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders required for holistic development of a family. Proven time and again by practice, collaborations with several partners bring about success in achieving the goals especially in poverty-alleviation.

In 2009, the DSWD announced that the municipality of Siayan in Zamboanga Del Norte was the poorest municipality in the country with almost the entire population living below the poverty threshold. This presentation of data through the Listahanan, a project of the DSWD that determines who and where the poor are, brought in many investors and partnerships to the local government of Siayan. In effect, the municipality was lifted out of its title as the poorest municipality according to the 2nd round of household assessment data result launched in 2015 by the Department.

This is a proof that together, we can achieve great things especially in helping the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized families.

The DSWD believes that investing in health and education of children is really the key to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty hence the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps. It is mandated to provide aid in the nutrition and education needs of children so that the health-seeking habit and learning from educational institutions become natural to the poor households with less hesitation due to lack of finances.

Believing in the same principle, the Unbound organization commits to support the implementation of 4Ps in the country.

Unbound is an international nonprofit organization based in Kansas City, Kansas, and founded by lay Catholics grounded in the Gospel call to put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable first. They operated widely across many parts of the world including The Philippines and Zamboanga Peninsula region. They have been a partner of the DSWD-4Ps in providing social welfare services in the community.

Guided by their faith and social teaching, the founders envisioned an innovative, highly personalized sponsorship program that would invite people to partner with poor families to support and encourage them especially in terms of education. Their goal was to empower families and connect the world not only with their struggles, but also with their incredible gifts.

Over the years, the sponsorships of over 1 million children, students and elders have created brighter futures around the world and transformed the lives of both sponsored friends and sponsors.

With the recent announcement of the Regional Exemplary Child winner in Zamboanga Peninsula, Unbound committed to provided a scholarship grant to Erich A. Pabilona, a 14-year-old achiever from the municipality of Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay, once she graduates from Senior High School.

This gesture is a manifestation of support and augmentation to the interventions provided by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program for its beneficiaries.

Unbound Chief, Rhodora Partosa, said that the beneficiaries still need support after high school to attain true changes and development in life.

“Necesita gayot canila ayuda cay el los de mas, hinde mas ta puede porsigi na colegio. Quelaya man sila sale na pobresa? (It is crucial to sustain the intervention because some of them are not able to proceed to college. How will they escape poverty then?)” Partosa said.

Partosa is one of the invited partners, along with the Department of Education, and Family sector focal to judge the entries of the regional search for Exemplary Child 2024 featuring the brightest and performing children of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the region.

Additionally, Partosa is also seeking a list of former beneficiaries of the 4Ps in certain barangays in Zamboanga City for pilot-testing of a new scholarship program for the youth.

The DSWD-4Ps Regional Program Management Office will continue to lobby support from its partners to steer progress and change in the lives of the poor beneficiaries.