Malita, Davao del Sur -- Other than being a program assisting extremely poor households in the country, 4Ps has evolved into an environment-friendly program that helps minimize the ill-effects of modernization.

The municipality heeded the plea for a hazard-free environment by initializing a municipal-wide bamboo-planting activity. Engr. Noel Hubac, LGU hired 4Ps focal person led the bamboo-planting activity at Barangay Felis in Malita, which is identified as a flood-prone area. The activity was introduced by its Chief Executive, Honorable Benjamin Bautista during the Araw ng Malita celebration held last January. Around 460 seedlings from the Department of Agriculture were planted along the riverbanks of the barangay. Around 80 4Ps beneficiaries were present during the activity. “Gituyo kani nila nga proyekto alang sa proteksyon sa mga kalamidad sama sa baha (They decided to have this project as a way of protecting the residents from damages brought about by calamities such as flooding),” Engr. Hubac said.

 The municipality regards this as a sustainable activity and also teaches responsibility among the beneficiaries. “Gibutangan namo ug numero ang mga seedlings para maalagaan gyud sa tawo na nagtanom. Kadabulan pud kini namo ginamonitor (We placed numbers on the seedlings so that the person can look after their seedlings. We monitor this every month),” Engr. Hubac added. Further, Hubac also encouraged other LGU officials and employees, Non-Government and Government Organizations, Religious sectors and all other organizations to also conduct a bamboo-planting activity and be concern about the environment.

 “Dili pud ikalimod ang kaayohan nga nahatag sa 4Ps sa among munisipyo. Dako kini’g natabang sa among mga kabos nga lumulupyo (We cannot deny the good things that the 4Ps brought to our municipality. It has helped our poorest residents),” Engr. Hubac remarked.

  He asserted that the 4Ps has also made significant changes in the lives of the beneficiaries. “Tungod sa global warming ug pagbag-o sa klima, ang mga mag-uuma wala na kabalo kung kanus-a angay magtanom. Ang 4Ps dako gyud ug natabang sa pagsuporta sa edukasyon sa ilang mga anak. Naa na pud ang kahadlok sa tao nga mawala sa programa mao naningkamot gyud sila nga matuman ang mga kondisyon nga ginapangayo sa programa (Due to global warming and sudden climate changes, farmers no longer know when they can plant their crops. 4Ps have greatly help families in supporting their children’s needs. The people are afraid to be removed from the program that is why they strive to comply with the conditions asked of them).”

  The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a poverty-alleviation strategy of the national government to help improve the lives of extremely poor households in the country by providing cash subsidies intended for the health and education of children age 0 to 14 years old. Moreover, the identified beneficiaries of the program must comply with the conditions required of them to remain in the program.###(4Ps Social Marketing Unit)