ZAMBOANGA CITY – Over 500 poor families in Zamboanga City benefitted from the recently concluded convergence caravan which was spearheaded by the Provincial Operations Office of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The activity dubbed as “4Ps Beyond Cash: Comprehensive Support for Pantawid Families” aims to foster collaboration among government agencies, non-government organizations, local communities, and private sector partners to deliver integrated services directly to 4Ps beneficiaries. Said convergence caravan was designed to focus on addressing the beneficiaries’ Social Welfare and Development Indicators (SWDI) gaps which will facilitate their transition towards exiting the program once self-sufficiency is achieved.

Beneficiaries from 14 barangays in the city were able to benefit from the activity, to wit: Ayala, Baluno, Cawit, Lapaz, Labuan, Maasin, Malagutay, Pamucatan, Patalon, Recodo, Sinubong, Sinunuc, Talisayan, and Tulungatong.

Primarily targeted to facilitate interventions for Samal and Badjao IP groups, the beneficiaries assembled at the Maasin Learning Center, Friday (May 16).

“This stemmed from the need for security. We saw the need for our 4Ps beneficiaries, especially the IPs, to be enrolled to the Social Security System. We initially partnered with them, then this partnership led to more partnerships with other stakeholders,” 4Ps Provincial Link, Glenda Tobias said during the caravan.

Anchored on the theme Collaborative Synergy: Fostering Integrated services to the Pantawid Beneficiaries through Stakeholders Convergence, the program brought together various stakeholders that provided a range of services including free haircut, circumcision services, school supplies and reading materials distribution, free eye-checkup and reading eyeglasses, SSS enrollment, dental health awareness, orientations on Gender and Development (GAD), Anti-Drug abuse and Anti-trafficking, among others.

The Stakeholders involved in this partnership include the SSS, US marines, DepEd – Maasin learning center, joint task force Zamboanga, City health Office, DOH, PNP, Kawanis Club of Zambo, Latin City (NGO), Marine Battalion Landing Team, Venus Beauty Salon and Barber Shop, Minsu Oil Inc., Kusug Tausug Partylist, Universal Canning Inc. Mega Fishing Corporation, Ms. Lovelyn Manalo, Julie Bakeshop, Engr. Michelle Macrohon, Macasilhin of 4M Enterprises, BLGUs – of Maasin, Lapaz, Patalon, Sinubong, Baluno, Ayala, Cawit, Recodo, District Advisory Committee District 1, Duraydo Family, Brgy. Councilor Carmelito Roxas Group of Companies, Maasin Parent leaders and Benes, Caltex, Maasin Gasoline Station.

Time and again, the convergence strategy proves to be an effective approach to bridge the gaps identified by the program to improve the level of well-being of its beneficiaries. Similar activities are set to be conducted within the year to facilitate the transition of beneficiaries towards the goal of reducing, if not eradicating, the vicious cycle of poverty in the country.