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The national head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) brought the government’s flagship poverty reduction program closer to the ground on Wednesday, February 4, as Secretary Rex Gatchalian met with Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) parent-leaders and municipal links in Conner.
Held at the municipal clubhouse, the dialogue allowed 4Ps beneficiaries to directly raise concerns affecting their participation and eventual graduation from the program. Parent-leaders spoke about on-the-ground challenges, including livelihood stability, access to services, and conditions that continue to affect household readiness for exit from government assistance.
Secretary Gatchalian assured the participants that support will not be withdrawn prematurely, stressing that assistance under 4Ps will continue until families are genuinely capable of sustaining themselves. He noted that graduation from the program must reflect real improvement in living conditions, not simply compliance with requirements.
In a separate session, Secretary Gatchalian and Apayao Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. met with DSWD municipal links for a feedback and assessment discussion. Frontline workers shared operational issues, implementation gaps, and recommendations based on their daily engagement with 4Ps households in the province.
Municipal links also presented updates on program implementation, fund utilization, and field-level concerns, particularly in remote communities. They cited logistical challenges and workload pressures that affect monitoring and service delivery.
Governor Bulut emphasized the role of municipal links in making sure that national programs translate into tangible results at the community level. He likewise noted that Apayao’s terrain and dispersed settlements require close coordination and sustained field presence.
Joining the discussions were DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, officials from the DSWD Field Office–Cordillera, and representatives of the Conner Local Government Unit (LGU).
