ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office IX, through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Division, commemorated the 6th anniversary of the 4Ps’ institutionalization with a series of activities that benefitted and involved program members in Zamboanga Peninsula.
The whole month of June was filled with activities that celebrated the passing of the law known as Republic Act 11310 or the 4Ps Act. Its institutionalization in 2019 made the 4Ps the national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven (7) years. Its main mandate is to improve the health, nutrition, and education aspect of poor families.
During the culminating activity held today, June 30, at Barangay Culianan, Zamboanga City, approximately 100 program beneficiaries coming from various barangays were able to enjoy the festivity and participate in the activities prepared by the regional management.
“We want to leave a message that the program is an augmentation and a support to 4Ps families. It is not to be taken as the sole provider of the family,” Regional Program Coordinator of 4Ps, Flordeliza A. Atuy, said during her speech for the beneficiaries.
The attendees to the activity were exiting beneficiaries of the program which means that they will be removed from the program by 2026. The removal of beneficiaries is in pursuant to the rule as stipulated in the RA 11310 that 4Ps families have a maximum period of residency in the program for only up to 7 years.
Series of Activities
4Ps Gives Back
Prior to the culmination, more activities were previously conducted by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program municipal field offices across Zamboanga Peninsula.
Since 2024, the 4Ps in Zamboanga Peninsula has established an activity that showed its beneficiaries doing community service for the public. For this year, a couple of community participation activities were once again organized by the 4Ps beneficiaries in line with the celebration of the 4Ps law anniversary.
Several clean up drives were conducted by the 4Ps beneficiaries in Zamboanga Sibugay. According to the beneficiaries, this is their way to gives back to the people for the assistance that they receive as 4Ps beneficiaries. They cleaned the streets, rivers, and coastal areas. They also helped clean classrooms and school surroundings during the Brigada Eskwela.
In the municipality of Titay, the 4Ps beneficiaries provided notebooks to incoming students. All of the 4Ps beneficiaries in the area donated at least 1 notebook which they collected and gave to deserving students of Pulidan Elementary School and Sta. Fe Elementary School.
A supplementary feeding activity was also conducted to support the nutritional need of the children in the said schools.
Another form of 4ps Gives Back initiative was launched in Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay last June 17. This initiative was in collaboration with 4Ps graduates who are now licensed professional teachers (LPT). Some BS Education graduates who are members of the 4Ps were gathered in Siay for a peer session with LPT former beneficiaries.
The initiative was dubbed as Passing It On…Notes of Success where the review materials of the LPTs were handed down to LET (Licensure Exam for Teachers) takers this year. Additionally, these LPTs also shared their experiences, study techniques, and personal advice to the incoming takers to inspire them as they embark on achieving another milestone in their lives.
4Ps ReyNanay
10 beautiful 4Ps mothers competed for the coveted title as the 4Ps ReyNanay 2025 of Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay. The competition featured 4 segments, to wit: production number, talent portion, cultural attire, and question and answer portion.
Their age, curves, and financial status did not matter that day because the 4ps mothers exuded full confidence as they strut onstage.
Ermalyn C. Nistal, a mother of 4, was hailed as this year’s 4Ps ReyNanay.
Information Caravan
In order to support the 4Ps families once they exit the program, the DSWD organized an Information Caravan activity to provide the exiting families with knowledge and information about DSWD programs and services that they can avail even after their exit.
The objectives of the activity are to inform the public about the 3TI Campaign or the Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon advocacy of the DSWD to combat Fake News; to raise public awareness on the DSWD programs and services; and to ensure that 4Ps beneficiaries sustain their gains even after they exit from the program by 2026.
Some of the program highlights include the 4Ps, Sustainable Livelihood Program, Supplementary Feeding, Social Pension, AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation), Minors Traveling Abroad, Walang Gutom Program, Sectorals, among others.
4Ps Kids Quiz Bee
It was also the first time for DSWD-IX to hold a quiz bee for 4Ps children. 7 contenders from various schools in Zamboanga City participated in the said competition. The competition featured 3 rounds which showcased the intelligence and tested the focus of the players.
In the end, Rizel Jean Zapanta from Barangay Culianan was declared as the Champion and she brought home Php 5,000 cash and a certificate.
Other players were also awarded with cash prizes corresponding to the level or highest round that they landed in the competition, namely Kimberly Perez and Victoria Jade Atilano with Php3,000 each; Nadia Aslawi and Irish Joy Dahunos with Php 2,000; Lainedyjoy Guevarra
and Zhelaine Ignacio with Php 1,500 cash.
Kwento sa Kwenta
The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is a program under the DSWD that has been a partner of the 4Ps since the beginning. It ensures that exiting beneficiaries are provided with opportunities to earn a living either through employment or livelihood.
During the culmination of the 4Ps Anniversary Celebration, some beneficiaries of the SLP were interviewed about their Rice and Vegetable farming livelihood. The SLP granted them Php450,000 capital in 2024 and after one year, the association was able to have an ROI or return on investment, and the business is still growing.
This proved the power of convergence which is seen by the Department as an effective strategy to steer the beneficiaries towards the goal of self-sufficiency.
Kilos Unlad Journey
Through a fun and physical game, the management re-introduced the Kilos Unlad framework to the exiting beneficiaries. This is to reinforce the messaging on the stages of case management that every beneficiary goes through in the program. The Kilos Unlad is a strategy to ensure that the beneficiaries achieve improvement in their lives within their 7-year-residency in the program.