To end its weeklong celebration for the second year anniversary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has recognized exceptional program beneficiaries and local government units (LGUs) that served as model implementers.
The DSWD said the culminating activity with the theme “SaMa Sama tungo Sa Matatag at Sa Matagumpay na Pamilyang Pilipino!” held on June 11 was aimed at acknowledging “the important contributions and convergence of beneficiaries and partner agencies in achieving the goals of the program.”
In her message, 4Ps National Program Manager and Director Gemma Gabuya said such activity sought to “celebrate these milestones and to further offer our commitment to our one and only goal of making our beneficiaries achieve an improved level of well-being.”
The ‘Gawad Paglilingkod sa Sambayanan’ or GAPAS award was given to Licab and Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija as the top implementing LGUs for the year 2019 and 2020, respectively, the DSWD said.
Pilar in Bohol province was likewise conferred with the Model Convergence Award.
The DSWD said it also cited Best Innovative 4Ps Projects of the different DSWD Field Offices. “Most of these were focused on sustainable livelihood, communal and urban gardening, education, skills training, and psychosocial intervention that help in community development. These projects were based on the lessons from their regular Family Development Sessions (FDS).”
The social welfare department also recognized the five Best Parent Leaders per region, “who exerted exceptional effort in making sure that their member-beneficiaries are compliant to the 4Ps’ conditionalities of sending their children to school, undergoing health check-ups, attending FDS; assisting in program implementation; and implementing their own advocacies to benefit their community.”
During the event, the DSWD also paid tribute to model implementing-DSWD workers from Central and Field Offices who were hailed as the ‘Natatanging 4Ps Kawani’.
The DSWD also took the opportunity to recognize former 4Ps National Advisory Council and National Technical Working Group members and its development partners, such as the United Nations Children’s Fund, Asian Development Bank, World Bank Group, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government for their support to 4Ps.
“I can attest to the hard work of our colleagues to ensure the smooth working relationship between local governments, national government agencies, private sector, civil society, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders to guarantee that the shared vision of improving the lives of the program beneficiaries is attained,” Assistant Secretary Rhea Peñaflor said, reading the message of Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista.
The DSWD noted that it launched the fifth edition of the 4Ps Operations Manual to provide quality services and guide the social workers and employees in the implementation of the program.
The manual carries the tasks and responsibilities of the National Program Management Office down to the regional and local implementing partners.
The department said it is committed “to ensure that the 4Ps is on track with its goal as the national anti-poverty program of the country as stipulated in the 4Ps Act.”
Republic Act No. 11310 or 4Ps Act was enacted into law in 2019.