“Ang pangarap ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at ng DSWD ay hindi lang maiahon ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino mula sa kahirapan, kundi maturuan din kayong tumayo sa sarili ninyong kakayahan at maabot ang tunay na kaginhawaan.”
This was emphasized by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian in his message read by Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera of the Conditional Cash Transfer Group (CCTG) during the e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan regional roll out and Pugay Tagumpay graduation ceremony on Thursday (July 17) at the Botolan People’s Plaza in Zambales.
The event, titled “Kinabukasang e-Panalo, Pugay-Tagumpay na Tunay,” celebrated two positive changes in the lives of the 4Ps beneficiaries, according to the DSWD chief.
The first one facilitated the inclusion of around 252 program beneficiaries in Zambales to the digital financial system of the country through the provision of mobile phones from the agency’s partner, Globe Telecom.
The selected 4Ps beneficiaries, which included members of indigenous peoples (IP) communities and solo parents, attended a series of digital financial literacy sessions on July 15 and 16 to improve their knowledge and skills in navigating digital financial platforms.
The conduct of the financial literacy sessions was held in partnership with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation, Ayala Foundation, G-Xchange, Inc., and Globe Telecom.
“Nakita namin kung paano ninyo tinanggap ang bagong kaalaman — kung paano gamitin ang G-cash, paano mag-budget, at paano maging maingat sa digital transactions. Hindi madali, pero ginawa at nagawa ninyo at iyan ang tunay na panalo,” Secretary Gatchalian told the 4Ps beneficiaries.
The DSWD chief said the participating beneficiaries opted to migrate their modes of receiving grants from basic depository accounts to digital wallet.
Simultaneously, the 4Ps also celebrated the Pugay-Tagumpay graduation ceremony of 160 exiting household-beneficiaries from Zambales who achieved the self-sufficiency level of well-being.
“Ipinakita ninyo na posible ang pag-angat basta’t sinasabayan ng determinasyon at pangarap. Sana po ay patuloy kayong magsilbing inspirasyon sa iba pang 4Ps beneficiaries – para sa darating na panahon, tagumpay naman nila ang ipinagdiriwang natin,” Secretary Gatchalian said in his message to the graduating 4Ps beneficiaries.
Part of the ceremony was the formal endorsement through the symbolic handover of case files of beneficiaries by the DSWD to their respective local government units (LGUs) through their Local Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDO).
The formal endorsement to the LGUs of Zambales will ensure the continued support for families transitioning beyond the 4Ps in order to sustain their level of well-being and prevent them from sliding back to poverty.
Joining Undersecretary Cabrera in the activity were Asst. Secretary for Operations under CCTG Marites Maristela; Asst. Secretary for Support to Operations and New Initiatives under CCTG Elaine Fallarcuna; and Regional Director Venus Rebuldela of DSWD Field Office 3-Central Luzon.
Local officials present in the event were Zambales 1st District Rep. Doris Maniquiz and Botolan Mayor Jun Omar Ebdane.
The activity is part of a nationwide rollout aligned with the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and Republic Act No. 11310, also known as the 4Ps Act.
The law institutionalizes the 4Ps and underscores the government’s commitment to improving financial access, digital literacy, and economic mobility for vulnerable communities. (AKDL)