The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Ilocos regional field office has awarded the outstanding parent-leaders and groups of Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the entire region during the partnership summit held here.
DSWD-1 regional director Marcelo Nicomedes Castillo, in an interview Saturday, said their field office is the first to give such award as part of the strengthening of the 4Ps program, which is now on its 10th year of implementation.
The winners of the Natatanging (outstanding) Parent Leader award are: Melani Sibayan from Balungao, Pangasinan (regional winner); May Rapanut from Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur (1st runner-up); Jacqueline Bacasion from San Fernando, La Union (2nd runner-up); and Emelita Razalan from Solsona, Ilocos Norte (3rd runner-up).
Meanwhile, the winners of the Natatanging Parent Group are: Aggasi Parent Group from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte (regional winner); Group 2 Parasapas from Rosario, La Union (1st runner-up); Suksukit- Nanerman Parent Group from Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur (2nd runner-up); Angat Leonisians Parent Group from Balungao, Pangasinan (3rd runner-up).
The winners were given trophy and cash prize.
Castillo said the winners were selected based on criteria, wherein provincial winners were first chosen out of all the parent-leaders in the entire region, and then a regional winner was awarded from among the provincial winners.
“Their (parent-leaders) leadership stand-out among the others. All of them mostly are leaders but there were really those who did extraordinary accomplishments. They go beyond what the program gives,” Castillo said.
Castillo added the institutionalization of the 4Ps is the milestone of the program.
“On its 10th year, the passage of the law institutionalizing 4Ps is a milestone as well as the graduation (from the program) of more than 40,000 beneficiaries in the region. But even if they already graduated from the program, there are still other programs such as the livelihood, not only from DSWD but also with other national government agencies,” he said.
Aside from the parent-leaders and groups, Castillo said they also recognized other government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and civil society organizations (CSOs) who are partners of DSWD in the implementation of 4Ps.
“We also acknowledge the help and support of other agencies, especially the LGUs and CSOs and even the media,” he said.
Castillo also admitted that educating the people about the program remains a challenge.
“There were still questions on why only a few were chosen as beneficiaries, but we continuously explain that these few are the face of poverty in the country that the government wanted to help. But the program can be replicated by the LGU,” he added.
The awarding was held in Dagupan City on Oct. 11. (PNA)
