KALIBO, Aklan – One of the graduating households of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Malay, Aklan is a story of unflinching faith in God, perseverance, and hard work.
Jenelyn Ritas, a native of Roxas City, Capiz, and presently residing in Barangay Argao, had three children listed as beneficiaries of 4Ps in 2013.
After nine years in the 4Ps program, she shared their struggles in a Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo interview about how she and her husband make enough to feed themselves.
“Before the 4Ps program, we had a hard life. My husband is a blacksmith of boats in Caticlan. I help sell chicharon. I also used to cook with the workers of a fastcraft traveling to Boracay. We rent and the kids go to school without pocket money,” she said.
Fortunately, the family now produced a seaman. The eldest daughter took up a tourism course; the third child is a third-year nursing student at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City and the youngest child, is a Grade 10 student in Malay, Aklan.
The family also opened a small outlet for herbal and beauty products in Barangay Argao to augment their needs.
For helping them out of poverty, the Ritas family thanked the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for supporting the education of their children.
“We have graduated with 4Ps. My children are the beneficiaries of 4Ps. 4Ps helped us because we barely had enough income for the family. 4Ps became our lucky charm. We are grateful as a grantee, 4Ps has helped a lot,” she added.
On April 8, 2022, the exiting and graduating 762 families under 4Ps attended the graduation ceremony dubbed ANI 2022. The graduates were turned over to the local government units for aftercare services and interventions after reaching self-sufficiency level or can provide for their basic needs.
4Ps National Program Management Director Gemma Cabuya commended the 4Ps graduates for their hard work and dedication despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic in communities.
“You will continue receiving assistance and services from other government agencies,” she added.
The 4Ps households-beneficiaries came from the towns of Ibajay (91), Libacao (81), New Washington (64), Altavas (52), Balete (49), Makato (49), Banga (48), Malay (48), Batan (46), Madalag (44) and Nabas (44).
Kalibo and Tangalan with 36 households each, Malinao (28), Buruanga (17), Numancia (17), and Lezo with 12 4Ps graduates.
DSWD is the lead implementing agency of 4Ps, a national government poverty reduction program designed to help poor households to improve health, education, family development, and nutrition./PN
