More beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from MIMAROPA and Central Visayas have successfully passed the 2023 Civil Engineer Licensure Examinations.

Engr. Jiazel C. Mabunga, a 23-year-old native from Romblon and a former 4Ps monitored child, had to live away from her family while studying in Manila.

Due to poverty and limited resources of the Mabunga family, Jiazel and her four siblings cannot attend school at the same time.

“Noong wala pa kami sa 4Ps, hindi talaga kaya na mapagsabay kaming magkakapatid sa pag-aaral. Kaya’t mayroong nagpaubaya at nagsakripisyo na huminto sa pag-aaral” (When our household was not yet a beneficiary of 4Ps, it wasn’t really possible for me and my siblings to study at the same time. Someone had to stop and sacrifice), Jiazel narrated.

Through the financial assistance from 4Ps and the small earnings of her mother and father who work as a house helper and as a carpenter, respectively, in Romblon, Jiazel was able to finish her studies at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Upon learning that she passed the licensure examinations for civil engineers, the DSWD commended Jiazel and her family for their contribution to the realization of one of the program’s goals of improving the lives of poor Filipinos through investing in education.

“Kaya’t maraming salamat sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program ng DSWD sa patuloy na pagtulong sa mga nangangailangan lalo na sa mga kabataang naghahangad na makapagtapos sa pag-aaral. Nawa po ay lumawak pa ang inyong programa upang marami pa ang matulungan (Thank you to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the DSWD for continuously helping those in need, especially young people who aspire to study. May your program continue to expand so that more people can benefit from it), Jiazel said in response to the DSWD’s congratulatory note.

When asked about her message to the other 4Ps beneficiaries, Jiazel said: “Nawa po ay magamit sa tamang paraan ang tulong-pinansyal mula sa 4Ps. Sa pamamagitan nito ay maaabot ang pangarap ng bawat anak. Basta’t maging masipag at matiyaga sa buhay” (I hope that you will use the financial assistance from the 4Ps in the right way. Through this, together with your hard work and patience, every child’s dream will be achieved).

The DSWD Field Office VII is also proud of the success of the four 4Ps beneficiaries from Central Visayas.

Engr. Dannice Clue P. Quijano and Engr. Kimberly N. Salpocial from Bohol, and Engr. Kenneth M. Regodo from Lapu-Lapu City, who were active beneficiaries of the 4Ps, also grabbed their spot in the list of successful examinees of the 2023 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination.

Now a licensed engineer, Engr. Vianne Kaye H. Rodriguez, a former 4Ps beneficiary from Negros Oriental, also passed the examination.

4Ps is a flagship program of the national government on poverty reduction that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor to improve the health, nutrition, and education of children.

To qualify for the program, identified poor and near-poor households or families must be willing to comply with the conditions and meet the following criteria: with 0-18 years old family member/s; and/or with a pregnant family member at the time of registration.

As of 31 December 2022, the 4Ps program covers a total of 3,798, 151 active household-beneficiaries across 41,676 barangays in the entire country. #