The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday highlighted the Marcos administration’s whole-of-nation approach in addressing the long-term needs of vulnerable groups, particularly members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

This strategy, according to DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumalo, promotes collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve sustainable development.

She noted that while the DSWD provides direct support, partnerships with private entities and government agencies are vital in helping 4Ps grantees achieve self-sufficiency.

She highlighted the goal of equipping beneficiaries with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to thrive in today’s technology-driven society.

“We always reiterate that the DSWD can only do so much within its mandate to help address the needs of poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors. Thus, we welcome partnerships with private entities and other agencies to help 4Ps grantees to access other programs and services, with the ultimate goal of helping them achieve self-sufficiency,” Dumlao said in a news release.

Dumlao also cited the compulsory attendance of grantees to family development sessions (FDS), a conditionality that promotes holistic development and social awareness among 4Ps grantees.

“Through the FDS sessions, we want to reduce disparity in access to information that are crucial to help 4Ps beneficiaries to acquire various life skills, such as active citizenship, disaster preparedness, responsible budgeting and savings, digital financial literacy, and other guides to family development,” she said.

The 4Ps also links its beneficiaries to other government agencies and institutions to help them find other appropriate services, such as housing, scholarships for higher education, social insurance, and livelihood opportunities.

Meanwhile, the Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas job fair was organized by the DSWD, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other key agencies, to assist 4Ps beneficiaries who are graduating from the program acquire employment opportunities and other services necessary for pre-employment processing.

The Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas job fair is part of the whole-of-government initiative of the Marcos administration to ensure that exiting 4Ps members achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

The DSWD is expecting about 2 million beneficiaries to exit from the program by 2026.

Other key government agencies that extend services at the job fair are the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Internal Revenue, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Security System, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Philippine Statistics Authority.

The 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program of the Philippine government, with DSWD as the lead agency.

Eligible household beneficiaries are entitled to receive cash subsidies provided that the conditions on health, nutrition, and education are followed. (PNA)