The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) continues to uplift the lives of marginalized Filipinos, plucking many families out of poverty, while helping shape good morals among both parents and children.

Ideal family

The 4Ps annually conducts the Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya to recognize model family beneficiaries who maintain strong family ties and demonstrate positive Filipino values that impact not only their own household, but also other members of their community.

The search has inspired 4Ps families to adhere to the program’s conditions while showcasing remarkable stories of outstanding families.

This year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 (Davao) recognized the Malingin family from Maragusan, Davao de Oro, as “Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya.”

The Malingins, who have been beneficiaries of the 4Ps since 2011, emerged as the grand winner, besting five other families in the region.

“The 4Ps program helped us a lot, especially in my children’s studies. Thank you very much for this program,” said Marcos Malingin Sr., head of the family.

He shared that of their six children, three have graduated from college, two are currently in college, and the youngest is in secondary school.

The Malingins have served as a living example of how resilience and solidarity can overcome adversity.

Farming is their main source of income but Marcos said it was not enough for all their needs.

“We are striving to make a living considering that we have six children to feed. We travel from our municipality to other municipalities to find means for us to live,” he added.

In 2011, the family was chosen to be a beneficiaries of the 4Ps. Marcos said when they started receiving their payout, their lives changed for the better in an instant.

“We were able to provide the needs of our children, especially in their studies. They got enough food and allowance since we became members of 4Ps,” he added.

Maria Mae Malingin-Miñoza, one of the children who is now married, recalled that before 4Ps, they went to school with only a “karlang” (taro root) to eat since they couldn’t afford to buy rice.

“Because of poverty, we need to help our parents. We saw their struggle and we need to lighten up their loads by studying hard,” she added.

With 4Ps, Maria Mae said they graduated and were able to give their parents a good life.

“I am very proud of them, we will not be able to reach our dreams without their perseverance,” she added.

Selection process

DSWD-11 regional information officer Michelle Franca said they started the call for participants in April this year. Before choosing the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya, the selection started at the municipal level.

“They (selection team) started at the barangays through nominations from the city and municipal selection team. They collected nominations from 4Ps parent-leaders (beneficiaries), and barangay village chair of the local government unit,” she told the Philippine News Agency in an interview Thursday.

After the nomination, the team conducted the Gender Sensitivity and Assessment Checklist (GSAC) then the team conducted the observation or analysis, interpretation, assessment, and recommendation.

“They chose one family to represent the municipality. We conducted desk validation, field validation, and final deliberation and the judging will be from our national government agencies and civil society organizations,” Franca added.

To qualify for the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya, the participant should be a Filipino family who has been a beneficiary of the program for at least two years with good standing in the community, and its members must have no derogatory records and has not been convicted of any administrative, criminal, or civil case involving moral turpitude in the last five years.

Also, the family income should not be derived from gambling, prostitution, child labor, extortion, and other similar illegal resources and must be 100 percent compliant with all 4Ps conditionalities for the last two years.

The participant should also possess a Level 3 well-being as per the latest Social Welfare and Development Indicator assessment.

Young role model

Meanwhile, the Search for the Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Children highlights the vital role of 4Ps child beneficiaries as key stakeholders of the program.

The competition emphasizes the importance of education and health, recognizing children who excel at home, in school, and their communities.

These children not only embody the program’s goals but also serve as role models for their peers, proving that success is achievable despite difficult circumstances.

Christine Jill Madelo from Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del Norte, was recognized as this year’s Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Child.

The awards given to families and children have proven to be excellent platforms for advocating the program’s goals, allowing 4Ps families and exemplary children to share their stories of transformation, inspire others, and promote values that strengthen the family unit.

“The DSWD firmly believes that every life matters, and through the 4P’s program, we continue to uplift families. Helping them overcome challenges and achieve their full potential,” said DSWD-11 Regional Director Vanessa Goc-ong during the culmination of National Family Week and awarding ceremony on Oct. 14.

She emphasized that 4Ps is not merely a poverty reduction program but also a testament to the power of community and solidarity.

“To our parent-leaders whose dedication strengthens the very heart of 4P’s, your leadership and service have inspired others, showing that the program is not just about financial assistance, but about fostering engaged and empowered citizens,” Goc-ong cited.

Poverty reduction tool

The 4Ps was institutionalized through Republic Act 11310 or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Act of 2019, making it a national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years, to improve the health, nutrition and education aspect of their lives.

For five years, the program has continuously improved the health and nutrition of young children and mothers by promoting preventive health care and increasing the enrollment and attendance rate of children in child development centers, preschool, elementary, and secondary schools.

It also contributed to reducing the incidence of child labor, raising the average consumption rate in food expenditures of poor households, encouraging parents to invest in their children’s health, nutrition, and education, and enhancing the performance of the parenting roles of beneficiaries and their participation in community development activities.

In the Davao Region, the DSWD identified 264,369 beneficiaries of the program as of Sept. 30, 2024.

Beneficiaries enjoy the following subsidy – health grant of PHP750 per month for each household; education grant of PHP300 per child in elementary, PHP500 per child in junior high school, and PHP700 per child in senior high school, with a maximum of three children per household for 10 months in a school year; and rice subsidy of PHP600 per month for active and compliant households.

Cash grants are computed according to compliance with said conditions and are released every two months. (PNA)