Some 25,904 household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) nationwide have graduated from the program in the first quarter of the year after achieving self-sufficiency status, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday.

The 4Ps graduates were recognized during the “Pugay Tagumpay” graduation and exit ceremonies by the different DSWD Field Offices in partnership with the local government units (LGUs).

Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group Irene Dumlao said the 4Ps Pugay Tagumpay graduation and exit ceremony is a celebration of the beneficiaries’ milestone and highlights “the significant achievement that reflects the dedication and hard work of both the beneficiaries and the program implementers.”

Dumlao said the Pugay Tagumpay is a commendation to the beneficiaries whose lives have improved through the program, and with the assistance of partner stakeholders.

“The graduation of these households signifies not only achieving economic stability but also empowering households with newfound competency to cope with challenges and to contribute to the development of their respective communities,” Dumlao said in a news release.

She added that the 4Ps beneficiaries become active partners in connecting the government’s programs and services to other vulnerable and underprivileged families.

Households who were assessed to have achieved self-sufficiency and those who have volunteered to exit from the program are officially endorsed to their respective LGUs either for further interventions to sustain their level of well-being or for aftercare monitoring.

“Through initiatives like this, beneficiaries would be equipped with essential skills, knowledge, and resources to pursue sustainable livelihoods and build brighter futures for themselves and their families,” Dumlao said.

She said the DSWD remains committed to supporting the 4Ps graduates as they continue their journey toward greater economic independence.

“By investing in human capital and providing vulnerable families with the tools they need to succeed, the program has made significant steps in reducing poverty and improving the well-being of Filipinos,” Dumlao said.

The 4Ps is the Philippine government’s flagship program for poverty alleviation that enhances the lives of Filipinos through investment in children’s education, nutrition, and health. (PNA)