The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), in partnership with key partners, expanded its e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan initiative by rolling out a two-day digital financial literacy session and mobile phone distribution in Romblon province from 23 to 24 April 2025.
More than 50 beneficiaries – 17 of whom are Indigenous People – from the Municipalities of Romblon, San Fernando, and Cajidiocan, attended the digital financial literacy sessions led by agency partners, including the GXchange, Inc., Globe Telecom, Bank of the Philippine Islands Foundation (BPIF), and Ayala Foundation.
During the session, partners provided an orientation on various digital financial services and e-wallets to equip 4Ps households with essential personal finance management skills, as part of the preparation as they graduate or exit the program.
BPIF Operations and Mobilization Associate Manager Gladys Malapo, one of the presenters, also discussed budgeting, saving, online banking security, and safe usage of mobile wallets like GCash.
The initiative aims to empower 4Ps beneficiaries, especially those living in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and at level 1 of well-being, by equipping them with the skills and tools to effectively manage their finances and access government aid digitally.
Romblon Municipal Administrator Roel Fajilagutan delivered the message on behalf of the Romblon Governor, Jose Riano, emphasizing the government’s efforts to reach 4Ps beneficiaries in the far-flung areas.
“Napaka-swerte ng ating mga benepisyaryo dahil nandito ang gobyerno na sumusuporta sa mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan. Ang layunin po ng programa na ito ay para mabigyan kayo (beneficiaries) ng access at magsilbing tulay sa dating agwat sa makabagong panahon, at lalo na upang hindi na kayo mahirapan sa pag-cash out ng inyong mga cash grants,” Fajigutan said.
(Our beneficiaries are fortunate because the government is here to support those poorest of the poor The purpose of E-Panalo ang Kinabukasan is to give you [beneficiaries] access and serve as a bridge between our interval in the modern times, and especially so that you will no longer have difficulty cashing out your cash grants.)
Atty. Mary Rose Oquindo-Pasibi, Division Chief of the 4Ps Family Development Division (FDD) which leads the implementation of the initiative, reinforced the goal of the program towards empowering its beneficiaries amid digitalization.
“Hindi dahilan ang inyong pagiging “4Ps beneficiary” para hindi makasabay sa pag-unlad o makagamit ng mga digital platform,” Atty. Oquindo-Pasibi emphasized.
(Just because you are a “4Ps beneficiary, it doesn’t mean you cannot keep up with progress or use digital platforms.)
Aside from financial literacy sessions, beneficiaries who opted to receive their grants through e-wallet and other digital financial platforms were given mobile phones donated by Globe Telecom.
The distribution of phones to the beneficiaries will provide an opportunity to apply the skills gained from the financial literacy topic of the regular Family Development Sessions (FDS) and will increase the chances of beneficiaries’ access to digital financial services.
In total, Globe Telecom distributed mobile phones to 15 beneficiaries from the Municipality of Romblon and 35 beneficiaries from the towns of San Fernando and Cajidiocan.
Sol Mangaring, a 4Ps beneficiary from Brgy. Ilauran, Romblon, Romblon shared how digital financial literacy sessions introduced her to various digital financial services, which she can conveniently use in her daily transactions.
“Noong una po ayoko sana ilipat sa GCash ang pagtanggap ng aking cash grant, kasi kinakabahan ako at hindi ako marunong gumamit, pero na-explain po kanina sa discussion kaya po naunawaan ko na po kung paano gamitin, kaya po para sa akin safe naman siyang gamitin kaya nag-agree na ako na lumipat na sa GCash,” Mangaring said.
(At first, I was hesitant about using GCash, but the orientation on Digital Financial Literacy made it easy for me to understand, and now I feel confident and secure about switching my cash card to GCash to receive my cash grant.)
The rollout of the “e-panalo ang Kinabukasan” initiative in Romblon province is part of the Digital Financial Inclusion Initiative of the program, which was launched in December 2023, demonstrating the program’s dedication to improving the financial well-being of Pantawid families nationwide, achieving greater economic empowerment, and strengthening partnerships between the government and the private sector. #