MANILA, April 9 (PNA) — Thousands of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) high school scholars gathered together with Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and other cabinet members at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Thursday, to celebrate their graduation.
“Marami ang tumulong, marami ang nagsakripisyo para tayo ay makatuloy sa pag-aaral. Anuman ang marating natin, hindi tayo solo-flight dito,” said Roxas.
According to Roxas, the 4Ps project is an investment to elevate the situation of the students and families living in the poverty line.
The DILG chief also asked the students and their parents to continue reaching for their dreams, even if it meant sacrifice and hardship.
“Tandaan ninyong hindi kayo nag-iisa. Nariyan ang Maykapal. Anuman ang mangyayari sa inyo, anuman ang mangyayari sa ating bansa ay nasa sainyo,” he said.
The help also continues for beneficiaries in the form of internships, college scholarships and skills training programs from the government.
Secretaries Corazon Soliman (DSWD), Armin Luistro (DepEd), Rosalinda Baldoz (DOLE), Commissioner Jose Sixto ‘Dingdong’ Dantes (NYC), and supporters of the 4Ps were also present in the program.
More than 4.4 million poor Filipino families receive regular cash grants from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, a poverty reduction strategy that gives Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) to poorest households, provided that they comply with the conditions set by the program.
This program also ranks as the 3rd largest conditional cash transfer program in the world, next to Brazil and Mexico. (PNA)