SAN JOSE, Caraga, Davao Oriental -Acknowledged by the Municipality of Caraga as the “model barangay for gardening,” San Jose has the enthusiastic and cooperative 4Ps beneficiaries to thank for. “Kini mahitungod ug alang lamang kanila (This is all because of them),” Barangay Captain Alexander Sael bragged.

The gardening program is the initiative of the local government of Brgy. San Jose which started October 2009. “Gitagaan namo og luna atbang sa Barangay Hall para ilang matamnan og gulay ug uban pang lagutmon (We gave the lot located across the barangay hall where they can plant vegetables and other root crops).”

Also, the seeds and other planting materials were donated by the local government unit like camote and swamp cabbage (kangkong).

In addition, the money they earn from their produce are then kept by the barangay treasurer as “emergency fund.” “Nakahatag na mi og singko mil pang-lubong kadtong naay namatay sa amoang barangay (We were able to donate P 5,000.00 for the burial expenses of one community resident),” Brgy. Capt. Sael said. Some of the harvested vegetables are also divided and distributed to the 4Ps households.

“Dako kaayo og natabang ang 4Ps sa amoang barangay. Nakita nako nga wala lamang nakatabang ang 4Ps sa pagpaeskwela ug paghatag og saktong nutrisyon sa ilang mga anak apan na-exercise pud nila ang community involvement (4Ps has been a huge help in our barangay. 4Ps not only assisted them on their children’s education and health but also enabled them to exercise community involvement),” continued Barangay Captain Sael.

As the father of the barangay, he never fails to remind his constituents to comply with the conditionalities of the program. “Ang pagtuman lang sa konsdisyon sa programa ang ginapangayo sa inyoha. Ug kung buot huna-hunaon para gihapon sa inyo ug sa inyohang mga anak ang kondisyon nga ilang ginapangayo. Swerte ra kaayo ta sa Barangay San Jose nga naapil ta sa 4Ps busa atoa gyud nga panggaon ang programa (The only thing asked of you by the program is to comply with the conditionalities set by 4Ps. And come to think of it, the required conditionalities are also for you and your children’s welfare. We are very lucky here in Barangay San Jose to be included in 4Ps that is why we have to love the program),” Brgy. Captain Sael prompts them.

Barangay San Jose is one of the seventeen barangays of Caraga which benefited from 4Ps. 4Ps is a poverty-reduction strategy aiming to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by giving out cash grants to extremely poor households to help improve the health and education of children aged 0 to 14. DSWD/sjbs