The month of December is for the celebration of holiday festivities. But for Mary Rose Hermosura from Tondo, Manila, her preparation for the season quickly turned into one of the most challenging periods of her life. On December 15, 2024, Mary Rose’s mother was rushed to the Philippine Heart Center and was diagnosed with a ruptured aneurysm. What followed was a whirlwind of decisions, emotions, and a staggering hospital bill that loomed over their already weary family. “So, that time po, malaki kaagad yung hinihingi sa aming down payment. Na-surgery na po siya, nalagyan siya ng stent dahil po doon […]

In March 2024, members of the Tumana Vegetable Farmers Association (TVFA) from Santa Maria, Bulacan received an unexpected blessing through the Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The 60 farmers were given 20 days to work on a project under LAWA at BINHI and were given cash for training and cash for work assistance. According to the DSWD Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Person Arman Jose Manuel, the 20 days were allocated to capacitate the farmers, followed by preparation of […]

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” True to these famous words of South African President Nelson Mandela, the world of the David family has changed with the power of education made possible through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). For Nicole David, a former 4Ps monitored child, the program was pivotal in changing his life and that of his siblings, as they succeeded in overcoming obstacles in pursuing higher education. “Kung hindi dahil sa tulong ng 4P’s siguro hindi ako nakatapos, hindi nakatapos […]

The five Reyes children are now hands-on with the business that their mother, Catalina, built and managed through her hard work and perseverance until her demise in 2020 due to COVID-19. A solo parent raising five children, Catalina Reyes became one of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries from San Simon, Pampanga in 2012. Later on, she became a parent leader and was active in all 4Ps activities. San Simon Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) Head Everlita Baluyut recalled that Catalina was determined to provide for her family as she tried different small businesses. Catalina experienced many […]

Members of the Sitio Atik Farmers Association, Inc. worked in unity to build their most cherished Small Farm Reservoir (SFR) atop a mountain in their village that is now their source of income providing food on the table for their families A community in Caba town in La Union continues to benefit from a small farm reservoir (SFR) made through the Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Climate change has brought many adverse changes in the community and the locals […]

The Molina couple of Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur never stopped making both ends meet for their three children. Pastor Molina was a farmer while his wife Venecia occasionally worked as a house helper and took laundry jobs. While exerting all efforts to make both ends meet, sending their children to school was still a struggle for the couple. In 2009, Venecia attended an interview conducted by the government in their area. She did not know what it was for, but she was looking forward to any help from the government. Later on, she found out that her family qualified for […]

Townsfolk from Barangay Alibangsay in Bagulin town in La Union had always wished for a cemented road to help them in their daily lives. A mountainous and hilly community, villagers were forced to navigate an uneven path in their barangay, which becomes muddy during rainy days. This community challenge ended when the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was introduced to the locality. Through the KALAHI-CIDSS, a Php4.5 million project was implemented to improve the 315 linear meter access road at Sitio Purao in Barangay Alibangsay. […]

In Barangay Sta. Monica in Moncada town in Tarlac, a once empty and unused piece of land is now an ecotourism spot that features a community garden and fishpond, all taking shape not only from an enriching environment, but also of the residents’ strong sense of ‘bayanihan’ amid trying times. Krystal Dantes, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) of Sta. Monica said bringing the once vacant lot to its current state was not an overnight transformation. It was even built at the height of dry spells in 2024 that brought various challenges to the farmers in many parts […]

Getting out of poverty and living a comfortable life has always been the dream of Cherry and Virgilio Canales for their family. The couple, from Balangkayan, Eastern Samar, worked hard to provide for the needs of their four children. Cherry earned a living by buying and selling copra while Virgilio did sideline work like carpentry. Members of the Canales family are proud of what they have achieved as a 4Ps program beneficiary. Their combined income, however, was still not enough to sustain the increasing needs of their family, especially since all of their children were attending school. Fortunately in 2012, […]