I read about the very inspiring story of Joseph Vincent Satura, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary from Cebu City who graduated cum laude and topped this year’s Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering board exam.
Joseph was a scholar in the University of Cebu. He acknowledged that part of his success came from 4Ps and how his mother’s monthly allowance from the program helped him survive college.
Sa kabila ng tagumpay ni Joseph, batid nating marami pang pwedeng gawin ang ating pamahalaan para sa marami pang katulad nya at ng kanyang pamilya. Panahon nang seryosohin at pakatutukan ang 4Ps at iba pang kapaki-pakinabang na programa para sa mahihirap.
Bilang mambabatas at pinuno ng Komite ng Katarungang Panlipunan ng Senado, nananawagan po akong magtulungan tayo – nasa pampubliko o pribadong sektor man – na gawing pangmatagalan at mas malawig ang mga programang katulad ng 4Ps na nagbibigay ng pag-asa at aktwal na tulong sa mga dukhang pamilya upang makaahon sa kahirapan.
4Ps is not perfect (no government program is), and through the years, it has earned criticisms, but at present, it is one of a very few ingenious public sector programs that make concrete and lasting interventions in the lives of those in need. Buhay na patotoo si Joseph at marami pang kabataan at pamilyang Pilipino.
So, instead of dwelling on a few reported loopholes and some alleged drawbacks, let us all work together to develop this program into an efficient and effective tool that provides social protection to the marginalized and, in the process, helps restore the common dignity of our people.