Barangay Recodo in Zamboanga City is known for being a busy community day in and day out. Many establishments are located in the barangay hence people from nearby, sometimes even from far-flung areas, converge in Recodo for job opportunities. It can be said that Barangay Recodo, along with Ayala and Talisayan, dominated the canning industry since many factories are in the said area.

One of the families who were given the opportunity for employment is the Erasga family who live in the same barangay. Victoria Erasga and her husband, Roderick, were factory workers at Mar Fishing Corporation. Life was not extravagant then, but it was steady. They earned just enough to put food on the table and send their children to school with hope in their hearts. Needless to say, they get by with their meager income for daily necessities. Little would they know, they will be faced by a storm they never saw coming. The factory closed.

In a blink, their security disappeared. Paychecks stopped. But bills did not. The sudden loss of income forced them into a world of uncertainty.

But as they say, when you are at the bottom, there is no other way for you to go but up. Surrender was never an option for Victoria, especially that she had dreams for her five children.

As any other decent couple would, Erasga couple discussed how to surpass this life obstacle. Roderick, as the pillar of the household, took to the streets as a tricycle driver, braving the heat and long hours for a few fares. Victoria, determined to help carry the weight, ventured into small online selling and accepted whatever rakets came her way. Together, they stretched what little they earned, but poverty has a way of pressing on every weak corner. Since they earned just enough for their food, school supplies for their children became luxuries. Health check-ups, especially during sick days, were not prioritized as it was an added expenditure. They resorted to rest and home remedies trying to save their money to ensure food on their table.

Then in 2012, a door opened.

The Erasga family became registered beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or more commonly known as 4Ps which is an anti-poverty program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Through 4Ps, the Victoria and Roderick received conditional cash grants that supported their children’s education and healthcare needs. School supplies were no longer an impossible burden. Regular health check-ups, medicines, vitamins, and even vaccinations became accessible. Meals became more certain.

But what truly transformed them was not only the financial aid but rather the guidance that the program provides to its beneficiaries.

The program assigned a dedicated Social Worker, Ardashir Haji Mahmud, to closely monitor the family’s progress. He did more than process documents. He listened. He assessed. He ensured that the Erasga family received appropriate social interventions tailored to their needs. Through his guidance, they were connected to Family Development Sessions (FDS), community activities, and opportunities that strengthened not only their economic standing but also their confidence as a family.

Each month, the beneficiaries of the program meet for the FDS. During those times, Victoria learned lessons on responsible parenting, financial literacy, disaster preparedness, and values formation. Each intervention was intentional and designed to guide them toward self-sufficiency, not dependency.

And from there, Victoria began to see victory.

Their children, Ervie, Vince, Mark Kyro, Rizal Aeuz, and Ezra Venice pursued their studies with determination and succeeded. Vince is now a nurse at a private hospital. Mark Kyro has also finish a college degree last 2024.

With the steady support of 4Ps and their parents’ sacrifices, education that was once threatened by poverty, became their strongest weapon against it. They proved the program to be more than just a mere assistance to the family but rather it was empowerment.

As per latest Social Welfare and Development Indicator (SWDI) assessment, a tool that the DSWD uses to determine the level of well-being of a family, it was found out that the Erasga family is now at Level 3 or Self-sufficient level which meant that they can now stand on their own, bringing with them the learning and capability to support their family. The family has exited from the program since.

For many families still fighting their own battles, the Erasga family stands as living proof that with the right guidance, compassionate case management, and programs that value education, health, and dignity, victory can indeed be at hand.