PALAWAN – The Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) visited Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa City, on April 1, 2025, to assess the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and engage with beneficiaries.
Currently, Puerto Princesa City has 8,615 4Ps beneficiary households across 64 barangays, with a total cash disbursement in 2024 amounting to ₱11,525,500.00 for education grants, ₱11,019,750.00 for health grants, and ₱9,784,800.00 for rice subsidies.
The program maintains high compliance rates, with 94.7% compliance in education, 93% compliance in health for children aged 0-5 years, 100% compliance for pregnant women, and 86.3% compliance with Family Development Sessions (FDS).
During the visit, beneficiaries shared how 4Ps transformed their lives. Manilyn Sayson, a former monitored child and Top 6 in the 2023 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), expressed gratitude.
“Ang 4Ps ay naging tulay sa aking pangarap. Dahil sa suporta ng programa, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makapagtapos at maipasa ang LET bilang Top 6.”
Similarly, active beneficiary Gemma Duran emphasized the impact of Family Development Sessions (FDS) on her family.
“Napakalaki ng naitulong ng FDS sa aming pamilya. Hindi lang nito pinahusay ang relasyon namin sa isa’t isa, kundi pinalakas rin nito ang aming kakayahang harapin ang buhay nang may tiwala at disiplina.”
Meanwhile, Darren John Bermas, a former monitored child and now a licensed professional teacher at Palawan Hope Christian School, recalled how 4Ps provided timely support during his school years.
“Dalawang araw bago ang pasukan, wala pa kaming gamit sa school at uniporme. Para sa isang bata, ang pagkakaroon ng gamit ay isa sa hudyat ng pasukan. Malungkot kami noon, pero nang sabihin ni Nanay na ‘may laman na’, ibig sabihin, dumating na ang cash grant sa ATM. Nagkaroon kami ng pag-asa. Alam naming makakapag-aral kami at matutustusan ng aming mga magulang ang aming pangangailangan sa paaralan.”
In Palawan, four former monitored children became board exam topnotchers, while 14 monitored children from Barangay San Miguel completed college.
Additionally, 12,490 monitored children graduated from senior high school in Palawan for the 2023-2024 academic year, including 1,575 graduates from Puerto Princesa City.
The program has also helped families transition to self-sufficiency, with 485 households in Puerto Princesa City attaining self-sufficient well-being (Level 3) and graduating from the program since 2020.
ADB board members commended the program’s impact on improving education, health, and financial stability for Filipino families.
Their visit reinforced their support for initiatives empowering marginalized communities toward long-term development.
Further, product exhibits from beneficiaries were featured during the visit, including Indigenous People (IP) groups such as the Palaw’an from Sofronio Española and Batak of Barangay Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa City.
These exhibits, under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), showcased handcrafted products from IP artisans, promoting their local crafts and livelihood initiatives.
The activity was also attended by officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and barangay local government unit (BLGU) representatives.
Contributor: Nessie Cory Palao, Social Welfare Officer III, 4Ps Palawan Provincial Operations Office
