Another beneficiary of the Pantawid sa Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), this time from the Mimaropa Region, has passed the 2023 Civil Engineer Licensure Examinations after surmounting difficulties early in life.

Engr. Shemiah M. Pineda is a 23 year-old native of San Jose town in Occidental Mindoro, a province that hit the  news headlines recently due to the current power crisis wherein residents go through a 20-hour daily brownout.

Shemiah and her two siblings were single-handedly raised by their mother, Prescy, after their father left them when they were still young.

Because of their poverty, the Pineda family became beneficiaries of the Pantawid sa Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in 2013.

Through the stipend from the 4Ps, Shemiah’s mother was able to cover their daily expenses.

Shemiah’s mother also supported the future engineers and her siblings by working in Manila to provide for their education as well as medication for her grandparents.

Upon learning that Shemiah passed the licensure examinations for civil engineers, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) congratulated Shemiah, who was also the 2013 Pantawid Pamilya National Exemplary Child winner.

“Marami po akong narating dahil sa inyo. Thank you so much po. Engineer na po ‘yong 2013 National Exemplary Child niyo (I was able to achieve many things because of . Thank you so much. Your 2013 National Exemplary Child is now an engineer),” Shemiah said in response to the DSWD’s congratulatory note.

Being named as a “National Exemplary Child” opened up many opportunities for Shemiah. It also motivated her to finish her studies.

Shemiah also became the voice of the youth and child representative of their barangay and the municipality of San Jose..

When asked about her message to other 4Ps monitored children Shemiah said: “.Huwag tayong sumuko hanggang sa maabot natin ang ating mga hinahangad. Tandaan natin na walang pangarap na imposible basta nagpapatuloy. Each step counts, every effort counts. Habang gumagawa tayo ng paraan para mangyari ang ating ninanais ay walang imposible.” (Don’t give up until we reach our goals. Let’s remember that no dream is impossible as long as you keep going. Each step counts, every effort counts. As long as we make a way for what we want to happen, nothing is impossible)

The DSWD Mimaropa Field Office and the 4Ps program led by Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera are proud of Sheniah’s achievements and hope that she will continue to make positive impact to her family and community.

Engr. Alexis Castillo Alegado, another beneficiary of the DSWD- 4Ps program in Paoay, Ilocos Norte has topped the 2023 Civil Engineering Licensure Examinations with a score of 92.10%.

A cum laude graduate of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte, the 22-year-old Alegado was among the 32 out of 77 graduates of MMSU’s College of Engineering who passed the Civil Engineering Licensure Exams administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) last April 23-24.

The 4Ps is a flagship program of the national government on poverty reduction and social development. It provides cash grants to extremely poor household to improve their health, nutrition and education, particularly of children aged 0-14. It invests on human capital to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty among poor households.

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