March 14, 2025 – Ibaan 4Ps women lead co-beneficiaries for a common goal.

As beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), they envision to make a difference.

Far from being tagged as merely ‘recipients’ of help, 37 women, who are all 4Ps parent leaders in Ibaan, Batangas, decided to step up and be known as a group who are able to help themselves, their co-beneficiaries, and most importantly, their whole community.

Last January 2025, they decided to organize themselves into an association and began reaching out to other beneficiaries of the program in their locality.

“Sa isa sa mga capability building training na aking nadaluhan bilang parent leader ng 4Ps, na-inspire ako sa isa sa mga guest speakers mula sa Majayjay, Laguna. Sila ay mayroon ding binuong asosasyon kung saan tumutulong rin sa kani-kanilang miyembro,” shared Maria Fe Revilla, the president of the Ibaan Parents Association.

Maria Fe added that their main goal is to work together to maintain enough funds to help financially support the needs of all members who may be in distress. This includes the provision of medical, burial, calamity, and educational assistance.

Since they started their association, they now have 600 members, all are beneficiaries of the 4Ps from the 26 barangays of Ibaan.

A step for the community

While their main goal is to serve as a support system for co-beneficiaries during difficult times, they also made sure that they will be able to contribute to their community, no matter how small.

“Isa sa mga naging pundasyon ng pondo ng aming asosasyon ay ang waste management program na ibinahagi rin sa aming mga family development sessions bilang 4Ps beneficiaries,” shared Maria Fe.

The members collect, clean, and sell tetra packs, bottle caps, and bubble wraps.

“Sa ganitong paraan, kaming lahat ay nagiging bahagi sa pagpapanatili ng kalinisan at nagkakaroon kami ng kamalayan sa aming komunidad,” added Maria Fe.

Last January 24, the group also tied up with Ibaan Central School where they put up separate trash bins for tetra packs and plastic bottle caps.

“Kaming mga miyembro ng asosasyon ang nangangasiwa sa pagkokoleta at paglilinis sa mga trash bins sa buong esk’welahan,” shared Maria Fe.

Slowly reaping the results

Despite being a new association, Maria Fe is proud to share that they are already starting to see the results of their hard work.

“Noong Marso 1, sa unang pagkakataon ay nakapagbigay kami ng tulong-pinansyal sa mga kapwa namin benepisyaryo na nawalan ng mahal sa buhay. Alam namin na kahit papaano ay naibsan ang kanilang kalungkutan at pangamba,” shared Maria Fe.

These days, Maria Fe and the 600 members of the association remain positive about the fulfillment of their goals as an association.

“Sa bawat basurang aming nakakalap, alam naming maraming tao at miyembro (ng 4Ps) ang aming matutulungan. Mababawasan rin ang lumulobong problema sa basura (dito sa aming bayan),” Maria Fe shared.

Other projects they plan to implement moving forward include feeding programs and cooperation with the schools in the coming Brigada Eskwela.

“Nais din naming mairehistro ang aming samahan sa Securities and Exchange Commission upang maging isang lehitimong grupo kami dito sa aming bayan,” shared Maria Fe.

Maria Fe and the rest of the Ibaan Parents Association are proud that slowly, they are making a name for themselves–they are no longer simply recipients of government help but a contributor to the improvement of their lives and their community.#