Isabela – “Dakkel iti pagyamanan mi iti Dios ken iti DSWD kasta met ti LGU Divilacan iti suporta ken tulong nga ipapaay yo kadakami nga marigrigat. Sapay kuma ta haan kay maum uma nga a mangmangted iti tulong kadakami aglalo kadagiti marigrigat.”

(We thank God and the DSWD, as well as LGU Divilacan for the support they provide to poor and disadvantaged people like us. I hope that they will grow weary in providing assistance especially to poor people like us.”

This was the statement of Judilita Pagaduan, one of the 75 households from the coastal town Divilican, who exited from the program during the conduct of the Panagdayaw ti Panaggraduar dagiti Pantawid Pamilya, ceremonial graduation for exited households of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Motivated by the goal of fostering success among the Dumagat Indigenous Peoples Group, the beneficiaries, predominantly comprised of IP members, expressed deep gratitude for the program’s transformative impact. This initiative has not only encouraged them to aspire for greater heights but has also enabled them to achieve milestones that once seemed beyond the realm of possibility for anyone within their community.

 

As a testament to this, the ceremony also paid tribute to 13 4Ps college graduates. Among them was Donald C. Baybayan who stood as an example of the program’s achievement, of which he now serves as Municipal Link of the same program who has helped him and his family.

Despite their official exit from the program, the beneficiaries received assurance of ongoing support and intervention from the Local Government Unit of Divilican under the leadership of Mayor Venturito C. Bulan. As a manifestation of this commitment, the LGU extended assistance amounting to P5,000 to each household, ensuring their continued progress and well-being beyond the program.

 

This graduation ceremony marked the second time that the Local Government of Divilacan has conducted such an event, and it was the first of its kind in the province of Isabela for the year. 4Ps has shown significant impact among the beneficiaries of the municipality, as testified  by the transformed lives of Pagaduan and Baybayan.

 

#BawatBuhayMahalagaSaDSWD