TACLOBAN CITY– The municipal government of Catarman in Northern Samar is gearing up to support more than 3,000 Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries who will graduate from the government’s conditional cash transfer program next year.
Mayor Diane Rosales announced during a Municipal Advisory Committee meeting that the town will hold a large-scale “Pugay Tagumpay” ceremony in 2025 for 3,213 exiting families, recognizing their journey and preparing them for life beyond 4Ps assistance.
Rosales, together with Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Irmina Delorino, also outlined the aftercare plans for the graduating members, which will focus on livelihood, skills training, financial literacy, and employment coaching to help them achieve self-sufficiency.
Various agencies are set to assist in the transition, including the Department of Trade and Industry (microbusiness training), TESDA (skills development), Catarman Public Employment Service Office (preemployment coaching), DSWD-SLP (financial literacy and business training), and Ormoc Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (savings and product service orientation).
Of the 4,706 current 4Ps beneficiaries in Catarman, only 1,493 will remain under the program in 2025. About 332 additional families are on the waitlist based on the Community-Based Monitoring System of the municipal government.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
