4Ps program beneficiary tops 2023 Civil Engineering Licensure Exam

A beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) has topped the 2023 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination.

According to Mark Salazar's report on "24 Oras," Tuesday, Alexis Castillo Alegado is from Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

His dad is a farmer while his mom washes laundry. He also has three siblings, so he studied hard and graduated cum laude at Mariano Marcos State University.

"Basta may determinasyon ka. Huwag mo hayaang 'yung kahirapan pipigil sa 'yo," Alegado said.

The 4Ps program benefits households with economic conditions that are equal to or below the provincial poverty threshold.

"Ito po talaga ang nais ng programa to break the intergenerational poverty. Pinanganak kang mahirap, lumaking mahirap, magkakapamilya na mahirap pa rin," said Department of Social Welfare and Development Asec. Romel Lopez.

"Hindi ho ito 'yung sa pocket money mo, panggastos mo. Hindi po. Talaga pong nakatutok tayo sa nutrition edukasyon at sa health ng mga bata nang sa ganun mabigyan sila ng fighting chance ika nga," he added.

Another board passer who is a beneficiary of 4Ps is Shemiah Pineda from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

According to Lopez, the 4Ps program had 30,000 beneficiaries who graduated college and 11,000 who are gainfully employed. The program needs a budget of P102 billion each year to send students like Alegado to school.

"Ang panawagan natin sa mga magulang na kabilang po sa programa, at lalo't lalong na sa mga bata, sila po talaga ang target nito, hindi si mommy at daddy, na sana po eh pagyamanin kung ano man po 'yung napag ambagan ng taumbayan, sambayangang Pilipino, kasi ito po ay pribilehiyo ho eh, hindi ho ito right, ika nga."

—Kimberly Tsao/MGP, GMA Integrated News