April 07, 2025 – Around 5,000 parent-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the CALABARZON Region are being provided with family development sessions (FDS) towards maintaining positive relationships between parents and children beginning March 2025.
These sessions, the Magulang Para sa Pag-unlad ng mga Bata (MaPangBata), are developed for the 4Ps beneficiaries in partnership with Save the Children Philippines. These sessions are based on the International Child Development Program that aims to enhance the quality of interactions between parents and children.
Through these sessions, the DSWD promotes the significant role of the parents in making the children feel cared for, understood, loved, and appreciated to enable them to seize development opportunities and help them progress in life.
“Masaya ako na may ganitong programa ang DSWD na nagpapaalala sa aming mga magulang na hindi sapat na matustusan lang namin ang mga pangangailangan ng aming mga anak, kundi kailangan naming tiyakin na maramdaman nila na mahal namin sila. Dapat palagi kaming and’yan para sa kanila,” shared Gerry Guirre, a 4Ps parent-beneficiary from San Juan, Batangas, who attended the session last March 24 and 31.
Rosalie Ilao, another parent-beneficiary from San Juan, shared that she learned her shortcomings as a parent and vows to work on improving herself as a mother.
“Nahihirapan akong magpakamagulang sa mga anak ko, madalas kaming hindi nagkakasundo. Kaya dumalo ako dito para madagdagan ang aking kaalaman bilang magulang upang maging maayos ang aming samahan,” shared Ilao.
Meanwhile, Eudocia Banagan, a parent-beneficiary from Atimonan, Quezon, who attended the session last March 24, shared the immediate results of her application of her learnings.
“Natutunan kong maging mahinahon. Nagulat ako na kaya ko palang maging banayad kaysa magbunganga. Sa maikling pagsasanay na ito, nakita ko agad ang positibong pagbabago. Naging mas malambing sila at mas masigasig na magk’wento sa akin,” shared Banagan.
In the MaPangBata FDS, session topics discussed to 4Ps beneficiaries include strengthening emotional connection, ways of talking with children, and providing positive support to children.
In the CALABARZON Region, these sessions are additional interventions for 4Ps household-beneficiaries with cases of not attending school children and misbehavior. [with reports from VELDeAlday/BCMElloso/SMTanedo]