32T beneficiaries of 4Ps graduate from college

MANILA, Philippines — More than 32,000 former monitored children under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have completed their tertiary education from 2016 up to April 30, 2024.

DSWD Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao said a total of 32,556 former monitored children under their flagship poverty alleviation program are now diploma holders.

Through the 4Ps, DSWD aims to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by investing in human capital.

Of the said number of graduates, 82 graduated magna cum laude, 1,135 cum laude, and 132 children received special distinctions.

“These figures are testament that 4Ps and the funds of the government are being utilized properly. They are solid indications that DSWD’s 4Ps is a valuable tool in effectively investing in human capital,” said Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson.

Dumlao said that over 6,000 graduates also passed their respective board exams, making them licensed teachers, engineers, architects, and midwives.

Just recently, she said a former 4Ps monitored child secured the top spot in the March 2024 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) in elementary level.

Khane Cervantes from Davao Oriental is now a licensed teacher after she, together with two other examinees, aced the LET with 92.40 percent rating. Cervantes also graduated magna cum laude from Davao Oriental State University-Cateel Campus.

Cervantes was a scholar of the Commission on Higher Education Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (CHED-UniFAST) Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).

“The DSWD takes pride in Khane’s achievement. She is proof that our Department’s initiatives are not only enabling the youth to pursue their education. We are also honing them to become responsible and productive members of our society,” Dumlao added.

From 2018 to present, a total of 49 former 4Ps monitored children got the highest scores in various board examinations.

The TES is a grant-in-aid program under Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act given to qualified students enrolled in CHED recognized public and provincial higher education institutions.

It prioritizes the beneficiaries of 4Ps and other households included in the Listahanan by supporting at least the partial cost of tertiary education, inclusive of education-related expenses.

Launched in 2008 and institutionalized by Republic Act No. 11310, the 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve their children’s health, nutrition and education. -  ATO (CEBU NEWS)