Graduating members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will continue receiving government support to help them stay out of poverty, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.
Speaking at the Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas job fair on Jan. 31 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, Gatchalian emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting 4Ps beneficiaries even after they exit the program.
“Naatasan kami ng ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr…para masiguro na yung mga 4Ps graduates natin o yung mga benepisyaryo na maaring lumabas na sa programa ay patuloy na masubay-bayan ang inyong mga pangangailangan (We have been tasked by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that our 4Ps graduates, or beneficiaries who may be exiting the program, continue to receive support for their needs),” he said.
“Kasama dyan ang makahanap ng trabaho at masiguro na hindi na kayo babalik muli sa kahirapan (This includes helping them find jobs and ensuring that they do not fall back into poverty),” he went on.
The job fair, organized in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), was attended by 94 employers offering job opportunities to 4Ps beneficiaries.
The DSWD said that several 4Ps graduates were hired on the spot, including Jhaycel Mara from Pasay City, who secured a job as a cashier at a sports apparel store.
Mark Benedict Inocencio, another former 4Ps monitored child, was also hired as a bagger at a shopping mall in Manila.
Various government agencies, including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), were present to provide pre-employment assistance.
Meanwhile, Kadiwa ng Pangulo stalls set up by the Department of Agriculture (DA) offered affordable basic goods to attendees.
The DSWD said it will continue monitoring 4Ps graduates to ensure they do not fall back into poverty and will help them find stable employment and economic opportunities.