Fresh from his travel from Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte in Mindanao, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee lauded the over 4,000 former beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who have become licensed professional teachers upon passing the Licensure Examination for Teachers last March.
Among them are topnotchers for Elementary Level Khane Jevie Rose S. Cervantes (top 1) and Jennifer G. Manrique (top 9), and Secondary Level topnotchers Christian Albert B. Paskil and Clarence Joy D. Salmorin (top 5), Jellian H. Calipes (top 6), and Joanne E. Cagata (top 8).
According to Lee, principal author and co-sponsor of “Expanded 4Ps Act”, these accomplishments by former 4Ps beneficiaries show the effectiveness of the program.
Lee’s proposed “Expanded 4Ps Act” seeks to enhance capacity building in education, livelihood and entrepreneurship training for adult beneficiaries. It hurdled the House of Representatives on third and final reading on September 19, 2023.
“Isa na naman itong positibong bunga ng 4Ps, na pamumuhunan sa kakayahan, edukasyon at kalusugan ng mga nangangailangan nating kababayan—‘pantawid’ para makalampas sa kahirapan, hindi lang pansamantala, kundi pangmatagalan,” the solon from Bicol said.
“Mayroon tayong 4,000 na bagong licensed teachers na ‘nakatawid’ at sana mas marami pa sa mga 4Ps beneficiaries natin ang ‘makatawid’ na rin para yung ibang mga kababayan naman natin ang matulungan.”
“Filipinos deserve better, and we should demand better. Dapat lahat ‘makatawid’ sa kahirapan, sa kawalan ng pambili ng pagkain, ng pambayad sa tubig, kuryente, upa sa bahay, sa gamot at pambayad sa ospital kapag nagkasakit,” he added.
Lee’s proposed “Expanded 4Ps Act” seeks to enhance capacity building in education, livelihood and entrepreneurship training for adult beneficiaries. It hurdled the House of Representatives on third and final reading on September 19, 2023.
The Bicolano lawmaker stressed that the said measure will further enable beneficiaries to successfully graduate from the 4Ps program, empower them to earn and stand on their own, and help break the “intergenerational cycle of poverty”.
“Kung ang yaman namamana, ganoon din ang kahirapan. Hindi tayo pwedeng maging manhid sa katotohanan na may mga kababayan tayong mas nangangailangan, na kahit anong sipag at kayod, hindi makalaya sa kahirapan,” Lee said.
“Bukod sa mga naging licensed professional teachers ngayong 2024, marami pang dating benepisyaryo ng 4Ps ang naging topnotcher at matagumpay na rin ngayon sa iba’t ibang larangan. Siguradong marami pang matutulungan at magtatagumpay kapag pinalakas at pinalawak pa natin ang 4Ps.”
“Kapag sila naman ang nakaahon sa hirap tulad ng mga bagong guro, inhinyero, accountant, nurse, doktor, mekaniko at iba pang propesyon, bukod sa may iba nang matutulungan ang Estado, ang matatagumpay na 4Ps beneficiaries ay may kakayahan na ring makatulong sa mas nangangailangan, sa ekonomiya at buong lipunan, Winner Tayo Lahat,” he added.
