Nicole A.

Forrosuelo Grade 12 - STEM

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

2nd Quarter – Week 5

Activity 3: My Story

A story about Roselete Gedorio, belongs to the Ata tribe, who is benefited with
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social

Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to change lives of poor families in the
country including the 463 Indigenous People (IT) belonging to the Ata tribe/families in
Mabinay, Negros Oriental. According to DSWD-7 regional information officer Leah
Quintana, the 4Ps included the IPs under the modified conditional cash transfer for
indigenous peoples (MCCT-IP) program specifically those in geographically isolated and
disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) in 2015. Quintana added that apart from providing
financial assistance to the beneficiaries, 4Ps aims to provide holistic transformation to
families through family development sessions (FDS) which more often developed
parent leaders in the community.

Pantawid Pamilya parent leader Roselete Gedorio belongs to the Ata tribe in
Barangay Canggohob in Mabinay town in Negros Oriental and she shared that their life
changed when DSWD included them in the 4Ps MCCT-IP program in 2015. The Gedorio
family still observed their distinct indigenous political structure as well as cultural
practices with the other members of the 463 Ata tribe/families in Mabinay. Roselete
said she became confident in dealing with people as well as taking part in organizations
and activities in their community when she became part of MCCT-IP. “Dili lang
pinansyal ang natabang sa pantawid pamilya sa amo, kundi apil napod ang among
kinaiyanhong gawi ug kalam, (Apart from the financial assistance we received from
Pantawid Pamilya, it also improved our attitude and knowledge),” Roselete said. She
emphasized that the best part she had in the program is learning different values in life. 
Roselete added that she applied all the things she learned from the FDS to her family as
well as to the community. “Usa sa among nakat-unan sa pagka-4Ps kay kun unsaon
mahimong epektibo nga lider sa komunidad (One thing I learned from 4Ps is how to be
an effective leader in the community),” she added.

She served as one of the councilors in their barangay. After her term, her
husband got elected as barangay official while she focuses on leading organizations in
the community such as Canggohob Negrosanon Ata Development Association
Organization (CANGNEADA) and Couple’s for Christ (CF). “Dako gayud kaayo og tabang
ang mga seminar nga akong naapilan. Naka-realize ko nga dili diay to mao akong
gibuhat sa una. Maayo gayud diay nga open-mided ta ug maminaw ta sa mga kabataan
ug mga katawhan.  (Attending seminars was a big help. It made me realize that it is
important to be open-minded and to listen to the youth and to the community),”
Roselete said. According to Quintana, Roselete and her family committed to continue to
help and be good examples to the community as their way of giving back to the
government, especially to the DSWD, in providing health and education grants, rice
subsidy, as well as life-changing lessons through the FDS.
Nicole A. Forrosuelo Grade 12 - STEM

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

2nd Quarter – Week 5

Activity 3: My Story

Reflection through an essay:

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a human development measure of the
national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the
health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18. It is patterned after the conditional cash
transfer (CCT) schemes in Latin American and African countries, which have lifted millions of people
around the world from poverty. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the lead
government agency of the 4Ps.

Apart from financial support, 4Ps strives to bring comprehensive change to families through
family development sessions (FDS), which have a high rate of developing parent leaders in the
community. And Pantawid Pamilya parent leader Roselete Gedorio belongs to the Ata tribe in Barangay
Canggohob in Mabinay town in Negros Oriental benefit this program. Not only her family are benefited
but also the Ata tribe/families.

The 4Ps also helps the Philippine government fulfill its commitment to the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs)—specifically in eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, in achieving
universal primary education, in promoting gender equality, in reducing child mortality, and in improving
maternal health care.

The Philippines has a fairly high poverty rate with more than 16% of the population living below
the poverty line. Because of the many people reliant on agriculture for an income and inequality in wealth
distribution, about 17.6 million Filipinos struggle to afford basic necessities. The Philippine government
plans to eradicate extreme poverty by 2040. Furthermore, the government has implemented
various programs and reforms to reduce poverty by targeting education, healthcare and the overall
economy.

Here are five ways the program is combating poverty in the Philippines:

1. Greater Access to Education: A factor of systemic poverty is a lack of access to education in

impoverished areas. People gain basic skills and increased job opportunities through education,
which can help to combat poverty in the Philippines. Therefore, the Philippines signed
the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act in 2017 to encourage more people to
enroll in higher education and to address the issue of education inequality. The Act aims to
decrease the number of dropouts in higher education and promote the idea that higher education
is available to all.
2. Greater Access to Healthcare: In an effort to improve the healthcare system, the President signed
the Universal Healthcare Act in February 2019. The UHC Act provides access to the full spectrum
of healthcare by enrolling citizens in the National Insurance Program and granting health
coverage to all. While healthcare is not completely free, those in poverty will have more access to
health services.
3. Family Aid: To further efforts to support citizens, the government implemented the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in 2007. The 4Ps is is a conditional cash transfer program for
impoverished households. The program gives households grants so long as they meet certain
requirements, including keeping the children in school, having regular health check-ups and
having parents or guardians attend Family Development Sessions.
4. Economic Improvement: With the goal of reducing poverty by strengthening economics, the
President signed the Rice Tariffication Law in February 2019, amending the Agricultural
Tariffication Act of 1996. The Law places a 35% tariff on imported rice with the goal of
prioritizing local rice production for the population by stabilizing the supply. The tariff also aims
to benefit local farmers by creating a more efficient and competitive agricultural system.

These programs help the indigenous people or ethnic group to reduce poverty. These will help them
not only for financial but also to their agriculture, health, and education.
Nicole A. Forrosuelo Grade 12 - STEM

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

2nd Quarter – Week 5

Activity 3: My Story