As part of its complementary role, the City Government of Kabankalan has launched on February 20 a new employment initiative for youth graduates of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), strengthening its partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in supporting them in their transition from school to work.
The Strengthening Transitional Employment Pathway for the Upliftment of Pantawid Families (STEP UP) Project formally opens employment opportunities for qualified 4Ps graduate youth by engaging them in six-month job order assignments at City Hall under the city’s Employment Facilitation initiative.
Implemented through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), STEP UP will initially accommodate 12 4Ps beneficiaries for its first batch.
Participants will render eight hours of work per day for six months, receiving a daily wage of Php450 starting March 1.
According to 4Ps National Program Manager and Director Gemma B. Gabuya, the initiative is designed to address a common transition gap faced by 4Ps graduates — limited work experience despite completing their education.
“By immersing young beneficiaries in an actual government work environment, the program aims to equip them with practical skills, workplace discipline, and professional exposure needed to improve long-term employability,” Director Gabuya said.
The project aligns with the DSWD’s Kilos Unlad Framework, which guides 4Ps households from survival to self-sufficiency.
“While the national program has improved school attendance, health, and nutrition outcomes, local governments are encouraged to complement these gains with initiatives that promote sustainable livelihoods and employment,” Director Gabuya added.
STEP UP is the latest in a series of local innovations of the Kabankalan Local Government Unit (LGU) in support of 4Ps implementation. The initiative underscores the complementary role of LGUs in the implementation of 4Ps in translating social protection gains into concrete, community-based opportunities.
It can be recalled that in December 2025, the city highlighted the accomplishments of its Balik-Pagtudlo Program during a year-end assessment, showcasing the role of senior citizens as volunteer facilitators of Family Development Sessions (FDS) for 4Ps beneficiaries.
Launched in August 2025, the Balik-Pagtudlo Program mobilized 22 retired senior citizens from various professional backgrounds who underwent a three-day intensive training on FDS modules conducted by DSWD Negros Island Region in Bacolod City. From August to November 2025, the trained volunteers facilitated multiple FDS sessions across barangays, reaching numerous 4Ps households.
Under the program, the city provided an honorarium of Php 500 per session, with a maximum of four sessions per month, promoting active and productive ageing while strengthening family development interventions at the community level.
“The 4Ps expresses its gratitude to the city government for pioneering and launching initiatives like these two, which further assist our beneficiaries towards our goal of self-sufficiency,” the 4Ps National Program Manager pointed out.
With the rollout of STEP UP and BalikpPagtudlo, Kabankalan City expands its support for 4Ps implementation, reinforcing its partnership with DSWD in ensuring that the beneficiaries not only complete their education and livelihood but also gain access to meaningful opportunities. – Repackaged by Niño Mel Hayno Trinidad / Original stories from John Paul P. Ocate of the Field Office Negros Island Region