Two hundred (200) household-beneficiaries of the 2,342 families in Legazpi City, Albay, who have reached Level 3 or “Improved Well-Being” under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), attended the “Pugay Tagumpay” graduation ceremony at the Legazpi City Convention Center on September 24, 2025.
The activity was organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V – Bicol Region through the 4Ps City Operations Office in partnership with the City Government.
The graduated households have reached Level 3 or “Improved Well-Being” under the Social Welfare and Development Indicators (SWDI). This achievement means the families are now capable of sustaining their needs, specifically their children’s education, and maintaining access to healthcare even without direct program support from the government.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has hailed the 4Ps as a game-changer, calling it more than financial aid but a bridge out of poverty. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian echoed the sentiment, stressing that graduation is not an end, but a new beginning.
Nanay Juditha Andes of Barangay Mariawa held back tears as she recalled how 4Ps allowed her children to finish school. “Hindi lang pera ang binigay ng 4Ps, tinuruan din kaming magpursige. Ngayon kaya na naming tumayo sa sariling paa,” she said.
DSWD Regional Director Norman S. Laurio encouraged the families to celebrate their graduation,ensuring that other government interventions remain available to sustain their progress. “Maraming programa ang DSWD para sa inyo. Nandiyan ang KALAHI, ang SLP. Dapat maging masaya kayo. Hindi ibig sabihin na graduate kayo, wala nang tulong na ibibigay sa inyo ang DSWD at LGU. Lahat ng interventions ay ginagawa ng administrasyon para guminhawa ang buhay ninyo,” Laurio said.
Mayor Hisham B. Ismail called the event a victory for the entire city. “Each family that rises strengthens the whole community. 4Ps is proof that social protection works. It uplifts not just households, but our collective spirit as Bicolanos.” This wave of progress extends beyond Legazpi.
Across Albay, 18,372 more families are set to exit 4Ps, with their case files being turned over to LGUs to ensure they remain supported through livelihood, training, and other transition programs.
The DSWD emphasized that while graduation marks the end of cash grants, it also signifies the beginning of a new chapter of self-reliance. With the support of LGUs, partner agencies, and the leadership of PBBM, the graduates are expected to sustain their progress and serve as role models of resilience and determination in their communities.