“Walang duda, kayo ang gumawa ng pagbabago at kayo rin ang magpapatuloy nito (There is no doubt that you made this positive transformation possible and that you have the power to continue it).”
This was part of the inspiring message of President Benigno S. Aquino III to the more than 10,000 student-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program who graduated from high school.
Pres. Aquino was the keynote speaker in Thursday’s post-event graduation ceremony organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the theme “Pagtatapos Niyo, Tagumpayng Pilipino,” the event was held to celebrate the initial harvest of Pantawid Pamilya.
Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor families, primarily those with children aged 0-18. It provides cash grants to partner-beneficiaries who comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for checkups, and attending the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).
In 2013, the DSWD expanded the coverage of the program to include the 15-18 age bracket to ensure that the children-beneficiaries will graduate from high school, and have a higher rate of employability.
The President added that the graduates are proof of what the Pantawid Pamilya program has achieved.
“Kayong mga benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya ang konkretong patunay ng nakamit natin, at naiisip ko na sulit ang lahat ng pagod. Lalong tumibay ang aking paninindigan na ang Filipino is worth fighting for (You, the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya, are the concrete proof of our gains, and I realized that all the hard work was worth it. My conviction even became stronger that the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for).
Top achievers
Pres. Aquino also cited graduates with honors of Pantawid Pamilya led by David Louie Manansala who graduated Valedictorian from the Maligaya High School in Novaliches.
David also gave a valedictory speech to inspire his fellow graduates.
“Ang kahirapan ay hindi sapat maging hadlang bagkus ito ang ating gawing inspirasyon upang abutin ang mga pangarap (Poverty should not be an obstacle but should instead be our inspiration to fulfill our dreams),” David stated.
David added, “Ang makapag-aral sa tulong ng Pantawid Pamilya ay isang magandang pagkakataon at hindi ko ito sasayangin (To be able to study through the help of Pantawid Pamilya is a great opportunity and I will not waste it).”
Excelling in his studies, David passed the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) and will pursue civil engineering in UP Los Baños.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that David, the other honor students, and the rest of the graduates are the reason that the government continues to implement Pantawid Pamilya despite all the criticisms.
“The beneficiaries are proof that the program is not a dole out but an investment for the youth, giving them a fighting chance to improve their lives,” Sec. Soliman said during the post-event press conference.
She added that based on studies, high school graduates have a higher rate of employability with a higher salary than those who do not have high school diplomas.
“The graduates now have the option to join the workforce, enroll in vocational courses, or pursue a college education through various scholarships available both public and private.”
She cited Marlito B. Soriano of Barangay Sinawal General Santos City who also graduated valedictorian from the New Society National High School.
Belonging to the B’laan tribe, Marlito received an international scholarship to study college at the Northeastern University in Boston, United States.
Another graduate, 17-year-old Edy Rose T. Tayab will also receive a scholarship under the Students Grants In-Aid for Poverty Alleviation (SGPPA) program in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Edy Rose, born without feet and a left hand, worked hard to graduate 9th honor of her class.
The Secretary added that as part of DSWD’s continuing assistance to the graduates, the Department has also partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), CHED, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Presently, Pantawid Pamilya has 333,673 high school graduates, who are considered the first batch since the program extended the educational assistance to high school. Children beneficiaries in high school receive P500 monthly in educational assistance while elementary students receive P300.
Several cabinet secretaries showed their support to the event namely: Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, TESDA head Secretary Joel Villanueva, and CHED Chair Patricia Licuanan.