The 4Ps, officially known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, is the national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program of the Philippine government that caters to 4.4 million household beneficiaries nationwide.
Although this program which is administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been around for less than 2 decades, many Filipinos are still unaware of the details of this program that aims to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by encouraging households to invest in their children’s health and education.
The DSWD recognizes the role of media in disseminating correct information about the 4Ps, along with its other programs.
This is the reason why recently, a three-day orientation on the DSWD programs, among them the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, was held at the St. Giles Hotel in Makati City.
Gemma Gabuya, director of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has underscored the role of the media in disseminating accurate information and enhancing public awareness about the government programs.
“Kapag nagtutulungan ang gobyerno lalo na itong mga private sector at media na napakalaking bahagi ay talagang mas mapapaintindi natin sa public [ang 4Ps program] (When the government collaborates especially the private sector and media that has significant role, we can truly make the public understand the 4Ps program better),” Gabuya said in her remarks.
Gabuya said the orientation aimed to counter negative notions by providing deeper understanding of the program to the media partners.
“I know that the media plays a significant role on how we communicate and generate appreciation for the program, as well as how we can help the beneficiaries take care of it. It means that they themselves should affirm that the government’s money is not wasted. That is the message we want to convey,” Gabuya said.
4Ps social marketing division chief Marie Grace Ponce clarified the 4Ps is not a dole out but “financial support primarily aimed to keep their (household beneficiaries) children healthy and studying in school.”
“There are lots of misconceptions caused by false information as indicated by some individuals like those who consider the cash aids being received by household beneficiaries as mere dole-outs,” she added.
There have been many testimonials about how the 4Ps has been able to help its beneficiaries, and one of these is Jennifer Garcia, who said the program has really brought a big positive impact on her family.
“Ramdam na ramdam po namin ang naging pagbabago. Doon pa lang sa mga baon nila sa eskuwela, nakayanan na namin. Dati talagang sa pagkain pa lang kulang na ang kita ng asawa ko na nasa construction (We really felt the change. Our children have now pocket money going school. Back then, we really couldn't even sustain our food through the income of my husband who works in construction),” she said.
Galicia added that she is now able to engage in a small business such as cooking and selling food in the neighborhood.
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao and Social Marketing Division chief Marie Grace Ponce cited the participants of the three-day orientation seminar and thanked them for their efforts in helping the government publicize the achievements made by the 4Ps.
The 4Ps program continues to assist the poorest of the poor with a higher budget allotment of P112.8 billion for the 4.4 million beneficiaries this year.
The amount is P10.23 billion higher than the budget allocation the program received in the previous year. Indeed, this significant increase demonstrates the Marcos administration’s commitment to uplifting the lives of poor Filipinos.