The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has helped decrease child labor incidents in the country by ensuring that each beneficiary stays in school.

“4Ps is more than just a conditional cash transfer program. It is a vehicle for hope and opportunity. By enabling children to stay in school, receive adequate health care, and access proper nutrition, we are helping children be free from any risk and influence to do labor,” Director Gemma Gabuya, 4Ps national program manager, said on Friday (November 29).

Under the 4Ps program, families receive monthly grants of Php300 to Php700 per child for educational expenses, Php750 for health and nutrition, and Php600 for rice subsidies.

“These grants are provided on the condition that families meet the requirements, including school attendance, regular health check-ups, and participation in family development sessions (FDS),” Director Gabuya said.

According to the 4Ps program manager, children beneficiaries aged 3 to 18 must enroll in kindergarten, elementary, or high school and maintain an 85% attendance rate throughout the school year to qualify for cash grants.

The 4Ps National Program Management Office (NPMO) recorded a compliance rate of 95% among children aged 6 to 18 for education conditions in 2023.

In a recent statement, Quezon City Representative Marvin Rillo cited the crucial role of the 4Ps conditions in keeping children in school, allowing them to receive a proper education.

According to the Quezon City congressman, this has contributed to a decrease in working children aged 5 to 17, as the Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA) reported a drop from 1.48 million in 2022 to 1.09 million in 2023.

Director Gabuya said the program continues to strengthen its Balik-Bata Eskuwela campaign by encouraging out-of-school children from low-income families to return to school.

“Through community outreach, collaboration with schools and local governments, and support mechanisms like providing school supplies, the campaign helps address barriers to education and ensures children can achieve their potential,” Director Gabuya said.

Geralyn Bacang has made history as the first college graduate from the Subanen Tribe in Sitio Logdeck, a municipality in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Many children in this area need more access and resources to complete their education. After dropping out in the fifth grade, Geralyn returned to her studies through an alternative learning system.

The 4Ps Provincial Operations Office in Zamboanga Sibugay worked diligently to mobilize resources and provide Geralyn with financial support. This included arranging for her to stay in a boarding house to facilitate her education.

“Dako jud ang akoang pasalamat sa mga tawo nga nagtinabangay para maka-graduate ko,” Geralyn said in an interview.

Geralyn is currently preparing for the Criminologist Licensure Examination.

The DSWD, through the 4Ps, is committed to supporting over 4 million household beneficiaries. It ensures more children remain in school, fewer families turn to child labor, and communities become stronger and more resilient. # (AKDL)

Tagalog Version

4Ps ng DSWD, nakatulong sa pagbaba ng bilang ng child laborers sa bansa

Ibinunyag ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), malaki ang naitulong ng programa sa pagpapababa sa mga insidente ng child labor sa bansa.

Isa sa mga mahalagang layunin ng programa ang mapanatili ang mga kabataang benepisyaryo ng 4Ps na makapagtapos ng edukasyon at maiayos ang kanilang kalusugan.

“4Ps is more than just a conditional cash transfer program. It is a vehicle for hope and opportunity. By enabling children to stay in school, receive adequate health care, and access proper nutrition, we are helping children be free from any risk and influence to do labor,” sabi ni 4Ps national program manager Director Gemma B. Gabuya.

Sa ilalim ng nasabing programa, ang household beneficiary ay nakakatanggap ng monthly grants na Php300 hanggang Php700 bawat bata para sa educational expenses, Php750 para naman sa health and nutrition, at Php600 para sa rice subsidies.

“These grants are provided on the condition that families meet requirements, including school attendance, regular health check-ups, and participation in family development sessions (FDS),” sabi pa ni Director Gabuya.

Nakasaad din sa probisyon ng 4Ps na ang mga children beneficiaries na may edad 3 hanggang edad 18 ay dapat na naga-aral at nakaenroll sa kindergarten, elementary, o high school. Mayroon ding attendance rate na 85% ang dapat na sundin upang matiyak na pumapasok sa eskuwelahan ang mga batang estudyante at makatanggap ng cash grant.

Batay sa report, nakapagtala naman ang 4Ps National Program Management Office (NPMO) ng 95% compliance rate sa taong 2023 para sa mga batang edad 6 hanggang edad 18 na pawang sumusunod sa patakaran para sa edukasyon.

Samantala, sa isang statement mula kay Quezon City Representative Marvin Rillo binanggit nito ang mahalagang papel na ginagampanan ng 4Ps sa pagpapanatili sa mga bata na naga-aral.

Ayon sa mambabatas, nagkaroon ng pagbaba sa bilang ng child labor o yung mga batang nagtatrabaho sa edad na 5 hanggang edad 17, kung saan base sa report mula sa Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) bumaba sa 1.09 million ang insidente ng child labor sa 2023 kumpara sa 2022 na 1.48 million.

Dahilan dito, ayon na rin sa 4Ps National Program Manager mas lalo pang pinapaigting ng ahensya ang Balik-Bata Eskuwela campaign, upang hikayatin ang mga out-of-school children mula sa mga low-income families na magbalik eskuwela.

“Through community outreach, collaboration with schools and local governments, and support mechanisms like providing school supplies, the campaign helps address barriers to education and ensures children can achieve their potential,”sabi pa ni Director Gabuya.

Ang 4Ps program ng DSWD ay nakatuon sa pagbibigay ng suporta sa mahigit 4 million household beneficiaries. Tinitiyak ng programa ang pananatili ng edukasyon para sa mga bata upang hindi na ito maengganyo pang magtrabaho sa batang edad.# (MVC)