Fruits of 15 years of government assistance

Growing up, Dehuel Umpad, now 27, knew ‘magdildil ng asin’ both literally and figuratively.

“Gasgas mang pakinggan, pero kami ay nakaranas na magdildil ng asin upang maipanglaman lamang sa kumakalam naming sikmura. Bagamat katulad kami ng ibang bata noon na humihiling ng masasarap na pagkain, naging sapat na para sa amin na makumpleto ang tatlong beses na pagkain kung papalarin,” shared Dehuel, a resident of Brgy. Don Juan Vercelos in San Francisco, Quezon.

His parents, Elpidio and Marissa, are both farmers who used to till the land of other people to support the family.

“Saksi ako kung paano matiyagang kumayod ang aking mga magulang, ngunit hindi talaga sumasapat ang kanilang kita para sa aming limang magkakapatid,” he added.

To earn extra income, his father decided to buy a camera and worked as a photographer whenever there were big occasions such as birthdays, graduation ceremonies, and weddings in their barangay.

Though this business was greatly patronized in their barangay, the income was only occasional. As such, they still faced difficulties, especially in their education.

15 years of assistance from the government

In 2008, Dehuel’s family was among the first set of beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)  in the CALABARZON Region. Dehuel was a monitored child of the program at that time, which means he received monthly educational cash assistance from the program in exchange for his attendance to school.

“Ang pangarap naming edukasyon ay tinulungang matupad ng 4Ps. Kaya bilang ganti sa mga benepisyong aming natatanggap, masipag at matiyaga kaming tumutugon sa lahat ng kundisyon ng programa,” he shared.

In the implementation of the 4Ps, beneficiaries receive cash assistance only when they comply with their co-responsibilities with the program. Included in the co-responsibilities are the 85% monthly attendance of children in school, monthly preventive health checkups of children and pregnant women, and monthly attendance of parent-grantees to the Family Development Sessions (FDS).

Dehuel shares that  they are also grateful for the lessons his mother learns from her monthly attendance to the FDS.

“Natuto ang aking nanay ng tamang pagba-budget na kalaunan ay itinuro n’ya sa aming magkakapatid. Lubos itong nakatulong sa akin lalo na noong nag-aaral ako ng kolehiyo,” he added.

His father was also provided an opportunity to expand his knowledge through the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in 2021 and finally able to secure a senior high school diploma this year.

“Grade 2 lamang ang natapos ng aking tatay kaya tinanggap n’ya ang hamon na mag-enroll sa ALS sa kabila ng agam-agam na baka hindi niya kayang makipagsabayan sa mga kaklase niyang nakababata sa kanya,” shared Dehuel.

Gracefully exiting from the program

In 2022, their family graduated from the 4Ps due to the family’s improved living condition.

“Sa loob ng 15 taon, malaki ang aming pasasalamat sa programa dahil malaki ang naitulong nito sa aming pamilya,” shared Dehuel, who added that they are now able to acquire a farm lot where his family uses for their livelihood.

Dehuel is also able to graduate with an automotive technology course and now works as a Know Your Customer (KYC) agent in a local telecommunications company based in Quezon City. Dehuel, together with his two older siblings, helps their parents in the family’s needs, especially for the education of the two youngest children.

Aside from farming, Dehuel’s father also serves as a ‘kagawad’ in their barangay.

“Walang galit o lungkot kaming naramdaman ‘nung grumadate na kami sa programa dahil alam namin na ang pagiging ‘non-poor’ ay isa sa mga hangarin ng 4Ps para sa aming pamilya. Alam kong panahon ng ibigay naman ang pagkakataon na ito sa ibang pamilya na lubos na nangangailangan,” Dehuel gratefully shared.

With pride, Dehuel is confident that their family is far from the situation where they only have salt on rice to get by. He is even more confident that he will not bring the family he is building for himself in this kind of situation in the future.#

[Based from the story submitted by Dehuel Umpad as part of his participation to the DSWD’s 2023 Salaysay ng Buhay ng Pamilyang Pantawid]