The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), along with its National Advisory Council and National Technical Working Group, is assessing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to enhance its features and implementation to benefit its members.
In an interview on Wednesday, DSWD 5 (Bicol) Director Norman Laurio said more than 350 delegates from 17 regions have converged here for a four-day field visit to study the best practices and address challenges encountered in carrying out the 4Ps program in the province and the region as a whole.
“Personnel, officials from our central office, and other national government agencies will go around the towns of Sorsogon province to see the implementation of the 4Ps so that they can see the challenges being encountered by the recipients, what are the interventions that need to be done to improve the level of well-being of our beneficiaries. The purpose of 4Ps is to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty,” he said.
Laurio said part of the activities on Wednesday was to visit five towns to learn about their best practices in implementing the 4Ps.
“We are proud to showcase the exemplary practices and initiatives that have contributed to the success of the 4Ps program. The positive responses of our local government units in support of anti-cash card pawning ordinances. Effective workforce caseload assessments, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing program operations and case management supervision. The over 80,000 children graduates, inspiring stories of former beneficiaries now serving as program staff, and instances where beneficiaries voluntarily waived their participation, signaling their improved socio-economic status,” he said.
He added that part of the activities is to conduct home visitations and interviews, with focus on education, health, compliance with program conditions, livelihood, and family development sessions.
“After the field visit, the council will have a focus group discussion addressing program issues, concerns, and gaps that are consolidated during the visit. The results and outputs will be an integral part of the recommendations for more effective implementation of the program,” Laurio said.
DSWD-5 data shows 405,588 active 4Ps household beneficiaries in the region as of March 2024. (PNA)