DSWD’s project aids vendor

“Without the 4Ps, I wouldn’t know how to sustain my family.”

This was how Jocelyn Tolabing described the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in helping her family.

Jocelyn, a widower and a mother of seven from barangay Sambag II, Cebu City, said she couldn’t thank God enough for the opportunity of sending her three children to school through the 4Ps, a poverty-alleviation project of the government that is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

When her husband died, Jocelyn lost direction in life. She was jobless and she had no other means of income but to sell food on the streets.

The livelihood could not even support her children’s needs, much more their education.

After her husband’s interment, a social worker from DSWD trooped to barangay Sambag II to screen families who may become beneficiaries of the 4Ps program.

Jocelyn’s hopes lit up after she passed the screening.

“Pagkahibaw nako sa 4Ps program sa DSWD, nakaingon jud ko nga daku ni nga tabang para namu’ng mga kabus. Mao’ng nidiretso ko’g file og application (When I learned about 4Ps, I told to myself this is a big help for us poor people. That’s why I immediately filed my application),” she said.

She said her desire to bring her children to school encouraged her to join  the 4Ps program.

“Gipili-an ra man mi (beneficiaries) base sa resulta sa National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (We were chosen based on the results of the NHTS-PR),” said Jocelyn.

Emma Lavares, Social Welfare officer III for the South area cluster of Cebu, explained that the NHTS-PR is responsible for the screening of the beneficiaries. It uses the proxy means test formula in determining the socio-economic category of the households by looking at variables, such as the assets owned by the family, housing type, livelihood and access to water and sanitation facilities.

“After the screening, applications will be forwarded to Manila for the verification of qualified applicants,” Llevares said.

To enjoy continuous coverage for five years under the 4Ps program, parents should comply with the following conditions — pre-natal and post-natal care for pregnant mothers, avail of preventive checkups, deworming and vaccines for children, 85 percent school attendance for children and attend family development sessions.

Jocelyn’s three children beneficiaries are Jolina, 12, a high school student; Dorothy Anne, 9; and Bernadette, 8, both elementary pupils.

As a beneficiary, Jocelyn receives P1,400 per month. The amount represents P500 for health expenses and P300 per child for their educational expenses. /UP Cebu masscom student Cindy B.Listor