TACLOBAN CITY — Once dependent on government educational assistance to stay in school, 15 former beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are now among the topnotchers of the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), proving that education remains a powerful pathway out of poverty.
The achievement of the former 4Ps monitored children was formally recognized by the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during its Monday Flag Raising Ceremony on May 18, 2026.
Leading the group was Rashil Rae Recorte, a graduate of Visayas State University, who secured the Top 1 spot in the Secondary Level LET and posted the highest rating recorded in the history of the examination.
Recorte said their success should inspire current 4Ps beneficiaries and students facing financial hardships to continue pursuing their dreams through determination and perseverance.
She emphasized that discipline, hard work, and consistency helped them overcome challenges and achieve their goals despite limited resources.
The awardees, all former beneficiaries of the government’s flagship anti-poverty program, excelled in one of the country’s most significant professional licensure examinations, highlighting the long-term value of sustained educational support.
DSWD officials said the accomplishment of the LET passers demonstrates how social protection and educational assistance programs can create lasting opportunities for disadvantaged families.
Officer-in-Charge Assistant Regional Director for Operations Leila Auditor noted that the success of the topnotchers reflects the positive impact of government interventions aimed at helping underprivileged children complete their studies and build professional careers.
Under the 4Ps program, qualified low-income households receive conditional cash grants to support children’s schooling, healthcare, and nutritional needs.
According to DSWD, many former beneficiaries have already completed college degrees and entered various professions through the assistance provided by the program.
Following their recognition, the LET topnotchers also paid a courtesy visit to the Department of Education Regional Office VIII, where Regional Director Dr. Salustiano T. Jimenez, CESO III, commended state universities and colleges in Eastern Visayas for producing outstanding graduates, including former 4Ps beneficiaries who excelled in the licensure examinations.
For DSWD-8, the success of the 15 LET topnotchers is more than an academic milestone — it is a testament to how accessible education, combined with government support and personal determination, can help break the cycle of poverty for Filipino families.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA/LIZBETH ANN AN ABELLA)
