A total of 381 household-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from the Province of Palawan have officially graduated from the program after reaching the self-sufficiency level.
The milestone was given recognition during a graduation rites dubbed as “Pugay Tagumpay” on May 29 at the Bataraza Town Center in Palawan led by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian who lauded the graduates for their perseverance and commitment to uplifting their families’ lives.
“Alam natin ay may hangganan ang pagiging miyembro ng programa pero hindi yon rason para ikalungkot kundi dapat ay nagsasaya tayo ngayon kasi sa assessment o sa pananaw ng DSWD, kayo ay pwede nang mag-exit dahil unti-unti nyo nang naiaahon ang inyong mga sarili sa kahirapan,” Secretary Gatchalian told the 4Ps graduates in his message.
According to the DSWD chief, graduating from the 4Ps signifies the household’s attainment of a level of self-sufficiency and is no longer considered poor based on the program’s criteria.
Secretary Gatchalian said that as the 381 families graduate from the program, the same number of families will be added as new 4Ps beneficiaries.
“Ang good news namin sa inyo, sa pag-exit nyo, sa paglisan nyo sa programa, mayroon naman ulit na more than 300 na papalit na mga katulad nyo na nagsimula na hirap na hirap sa buhay na nangangailangan ng tulong at kalinga ng ating pamahalaan,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Case folders of the graduating 4Ps beneficiaries were also turned over to the municipalities of Bataraza and Brooke’s Point to ensure continuous assistance to the graduating households.
“Ngayon na nag-exit na kayo sa program, ipinapasa na namin kayo sa lokal na pamahalaan para matulungan kayo ng mga karagdagang interbensyon,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief added: “Sa mga alkalde ng Bataraza at Brooke’s Point, huwag po kayong mag-alala, hindi naman po mawawala ang DSWD. Nandito po kami na aagapay sa inyong mga lokal na pamahalaan para masigurado namin na yung nga nagtagumpay ngayong araw na ito ay hindi na babalik sa kahirapan.”
Before concluding his message, Secretary Gatchalian, on behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, expressed his congratulations to the graduating household beneficiaries.
“Sa lahat ng nagsipagtapos mula sa 4Ps ngayon, sa ngalan ng ating Pangulo, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, kami po ay bumabati sa inyong tagumpay sa araw na ito. Makaaasa kayo na hindi kami mawawala, kundi babantayan namin ang inyong nga kaso para masigurado na tuloy-tuloy na ang inyong tagumpay,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Two former 4Ps monitored children, who are now professionals, were also present during the Pugay Tagumpay graduation ceremony to share their stories to the exiting beneficiaries.
Nischelle Saguico, who recently landed Top 6 in the March 2025 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), underscored the importance of education in ending the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
“Ang edukasyon ay hindi lamang susi sa tagumpay, kundi isang tulay para sa kahirapan patungo sa mas maaliwalas na kinabukasan. Sa mga kabataan na naririto po ngayon, anumang hirap ang pinagdadaanan natin, magtiwala tayo sa kapangyarihan ng edukasyon sapagkat hindi ito daan para mabago ang ating kwento at ating buhay, kundi para baguhin ang kwento ng ating pamilya at ng komunidad,” Nischelle said.
Nischelle, a native of Bataraza, took up Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Science at the Palawan State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Kim Kim Inde from Barangay Mainit, Brooke’s Point, Palawan, who was also among the topnotchers in the November 2023 Licensure Examination for Midwives, shared the two major challenges he experienced before attaining success—life’s hardship and being away from his family while studying.
“Ako po ay isang katutubong Palaw’an na galing sa Barangay Mainit na isang payak na community, mabundok na lugar. Hindi po ako nagsimula bilang isang mayaman na tao. Nagsimula po ako sa pinakamababa,” Kim Kim said.
Kim Kim added: “Sinimulan ko ang aking pag-aaral, sinimulan ko ang aking pangarap, at naging determinado po akong tapusin iyon. Ngayon ay naging isang patotoo sa inyong harapan na ang pagsisikap at determinasyon na maiangat ang sarili nating buhay ay posible sa ating lahat, kahit ano pa man ang estado at kalagayan natin sa buhay.”
The DSWD reaffirmed its commitment to providing continued support and developing responsive programs to help 4Ps households sustain and further their progress even beyond their graduation.(YADP)