The Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) visited Barangay San Miguel on April 1 to assess the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and listen to stories from beneficiaries whose lives have been changed by the program.
Puerto Princesa City currently has 8,615 households enrolled in 4Ps across 64 barangays. In 2024, the program released ₱11.5 million in education grants, ₱11 million in health grants, and nearly ₱9.8 million in rice subsidies to support families in the city.
The program has maintained high compliance rates, with 94.7 percent of children staying in school, 93 percent of children aged 0 to 5 receiving proper healthcare, and a full 100 percent compliance rate for pregnant women. Meanwhile, attendance at Family Development Sessions (FDS) stands at 86.3 percent.
Beneficiaries shared how the program has helped them overcome poverty. Manilyn Sayson, a former monitored child and now one of the top passers in the 2023 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), credited 4Ps for helping her reach her dreams.
“Ang 4Ps ay naging tulay sa aking pangarap. Dahil sa suporta ng programa, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makapagtapos at maipasa ang LET bilang Top 6,” she said.
Gemma Duran, an active beneficiary, highlighted how the program’s family development sessions strengthened their household.
“Napakalaki ng naitulong ng FDS sa aming pamilya. Hindi lang nito pinahusay ang relasyon namin sa isa’t isa, kundi pinalakas rin nito ang aming kakayahang harapin ang buhay nang may tiwala at disiplina,” Duran shared.
For Darren John Bermas, now a licensed teacher at Palawan Hope Christian School, the program provided crucial support during his student days.
“Dalawang araw bago ang pasukan, wala pa kaming gamit sa school at uniporme. Para sa isang bata, ang pagkakaroon ng gamit ay isa sa hudyat ng pasukan. Malungkot kami noon, pero nang sabihin ni Nanay na ‘may laman na,’ ibig sabihin, dumating na ang cash grant sa ATM. Nagkaroon kami ng pag-asa. Alam naming makakapag-aral kami at matutustusan ng aming mga magulang ang aming pangangailangan sa paaralan,” he recalled.
In Palawan, four former monitored children have become board exam topnotchers, while 14 from Barangay San Miguel have completed their college degrees. For the school year 2023-2024, 12,490 monitored children graduated from senior high school in Palawan, including 1,575 from Puerto Princesa City.
Since 2020, 485 households in Puerto Princesa have reached self-sufficiency and graduated from the program.
ADB officials lauded the program’s impact, saying it has improved access to education and healthcare while helping families build financial resilience. Their visit reaffirmed ADB’s support for programs that empower poor communities toward long-term development.
During the visit, 4Ps beneficiaries, including Indigenous Peoples (IP) groups such as the Palaw’an from Sofronio Española and the Batak of Barangay Cabayugan, also showcased their handcrafted products under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). The exhibit featured local crafts and promoted livelihood opportunities for indigenous artisans.
The event was attended by officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and representatives from the barangay local government units.
