February 16, 2026 – 4Ps field implementers in CALABARZON grateful for kits, lapels for family development sessions 

In the conduct of the monthly family development sessions (FDS) for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), being heard is a priority.

It is in the FDS where the DSWD imparts knowledge to beneficiaries crucial to changing their perspectives and behaviors towards strengthening their families’ relationship and later on improving their living conditions.

As such, the city links and municipal links (C/MLs) of the 4Ps, the field implementers who are tasked to conduct these sessions, strive to make every FDS count. And for these field implementers, the support from the DSWD–including the recent distribution of FDS kits and lapels per case worker–gives them the extra edge in ensuring the effectiveness of the FDS.

From September 2025 to January 2026, the DSWD distributed FDS kits and lapels to the 1,017 C/MLs across the region.

More than just supplies, materials

For Christine Pedernal, a 4Ps City Link assigned in General Trias City, Cavite, the FDS kits are more than just extra supplies or materials for the conduct of the FDS.

“Ang mga materials na ito ay makatutulong upang makapag-deliver ako ng mas dynamic na sessions at ma-engage ko ang mga benepisyaryo sa topic,” shared Pedernal, who added that the contents help her in preparing better visual aids to better connect with the beneficiaries during sessions.

Each FDS kit contains manila paper, crayons, ballpens, umbrellas, and lapels among others aimed at helping each C/ML to effectively prepare for and conduct the family development sessions.

Manilyn Umali, a 4Ps municipal link assigned in Pila, Laguna, shared that having their own FDS kits means that each C/ML will no longer have to make do with what available supplies they have in the office or even spend their own resources for their FDS materials.

“Big help po ang FDS kits dahil tigi-tigisa na kaming mga ML ng supplies. Dati kasi, talagang hahati-hatiin namin kapag mayroong darating na supplies. Ngayon, at least mayroon na kami na makakasupport sa amin na tatagal din ng mga ilang buwan,” Umali shared.

Umali added that with enough supplies, they can explore a lot of activities during the FDS to ensure that they keep their beneficiaries’ interest all throughout their two-hour session.

Grateful for being ‘cared for’

Karol Hernandez, a municipal link in Pagbilao, Quezon, feels that these kits, especially the lapels, speak of the ‘care’ being provided by the DSWD to field implementers like her.

“Sobrang helpful po ng lapel dahil hindi ko na kailangang sumigaw tuwing session para marinig lang ako ng mga beneficiaries. Nabawasan ‘yung pagod namin bilang facilitator ng FDS,” said Hernandez, who like all other C/MLs, conducts these sessions at least eight times per month.

Hernandez added that using the lapel also makes the experience of the beneficiaries better during FDS.

“Mas malinaw po at maayos na ang aming talakayan, mas nagiging active po sila sa aming mga session,” she shared.

Umali agrees that even if the lapels may not be effective and useful in all situations (or venues), at least most of the time, they do not have to exert their voice too much to deliver the session.

“Bilang City Link, nakapagbibigay ng kasiyahan at inspirasyon sa amin ang pagkakaroon ng FDS kits dahil ipinapakita nito ang pagpapahalaga sa aming serbisyo,” shared Lilet Ann Trinidad, a city link from Lucena City.

But more than being an inspiration, all these field implementers agree that these FDS kits, even though viewed simply as supplies or materials, help them accomplish the most important thing–that is an improved service delivery for the beneficiaries they serve.

After all, when their beneficiaries hear them clearly and their interests are captured during each session, they can guarantee their learning and later on their capacity to use these to help their families improve their lives little by little.#