The Department of Social Worker and Development (DSWD)-Davao Region noted a 21.32 percent or 43,446 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries are now enjoying a self-sufficient status based on their 2016 assessment.

Speaking in Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Ecoland, Davao City, DSWD-Davao regional director Mercedita P. Jabagat said based on their accomplishment report for 2016, there are a total of 203,753 active household beneficiaries under 4PS in Davao region and of this number, 75 percent or 157,906 have elevated their status from survival to subsistence level.

She said that they are using indicators to determine the levels of the families’ well-being whether they have improved or remain in the classification of “poor”. Those beneficiaries identified as “survival” means they are below the poverty threshold, subsistence means they can provide just enough necessities like food and shelter to live with the program’s intervention while beneficiaries under the level of self-sufficient means they can already provide on their own without the assistance of the program, the highest level among the categories.

Jabagat underscored that in the Listahanan 2 or the National Household Targetting System for Poverty Reduction Program (NHTS-PR) data assessed in 2014 showed that a total of 1.3 million beneficiaries of the 4.2 million active household beneficiaries of the 4Ps have managed to improve their socio-economic condition and now in the transition period.

She attributed the significant improvements on the joint effort of the social workers in implementing anti-poor programs and the 4Ps members themselves in fighting inter-generational cycle of poverty or making sure that the next generation are in a better situation.

DSWD secretary Judy Taguiwalo had ordered constant monitor and evaluation of the members and assess the developments in the members’ lives from the benefits and government services they availed.

Jabagat vowed that they will continue to aim to eradicate poverty in the region and in the country and make all self-sufficient. Even those who have graduated to subsistence level will still get assistance to ensure that they do not fall back to survival level.

Meanwhile, 423,354 families were given relief assistance during the disaster relief operations in Davao Region. (Juliet C. Revita, Sun Star Davao)