Cordillera Administrative Region- A total of 464 households in Baguio City marked a new chapter in their journey toward self-reliance as the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD FO CAR), through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Baguio City Operations Office,celebrated their graduation from the program on 20 October 2025. Dubbed as “Pugay Tagumpay”, the graduation ceremony recognized 419 Pantawid Pamilya households who have successfully reached an improved level of well-being.
Pantawid Pamilya Division Chief Fatima Florendo said that the ceremony marks a milestone for the families who have been successful in hurdling life’s challenges. “The journey of 4Ps beneficiaries is nothing short of inspiring. You were able transform your humble beginnings to achieving your goals, proof that with the right support and mindset, anything is possible”. Florendo shared.
She also recognized the Department’s partners in the implementation of the Program.
“I would like to thank our partners for the unwavering support and partnership in making this transformation possible. Their commitment has been instrumental in guiding the families to a point of self-sufficiency”, she added.
Aside from the partner beneficiaries, the graduation ceremony was also attended by the City Advisory Council members composed of Government and Non-Government stakeholders including the Baguio Local Government Unit represented by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Baguio City Councilor and Committee on Social, Women, and Urban Poor Chairperson Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Baguio City Social Welfare and Development Office, and Liga ng mga Barangay representative; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Baguio-Benguet, Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Baguio-Benguet, and Department of Education- Baguio Division Office. The activity was also witnessed by D’ Baptist City Church and Yeshua Change Agent, partner Civil Society Organizations, that are actively supporting the Program through serving as Resource Speakers during Family Development Sessions (FDS).
Meanwhile, graduate households also expressed their gratitude to the Program and its partners. Clarita Iniong from Brgy. Pacdal shared that the Program did not just help them financially but it gave them hope and courage. “Through the Family Development Sessions, I learned to become a better parent and to believe that we can rise above poverty. You did not just give us help, you gave us a new beginning. Dati wala kaming bahay pero ngayon, nasimulan na. Hindi pa man tapos, pero bawat pako at hollow block ay bunga ng aming sipag, dasal at pagtitiyaga. Dati wala kaming pag-asa, pero ngayon, puno na kami ng pangarap.”, she said.
Iniong is a Set 6A beneficiary who joined in the Program in 2012. Through the program, she was able to send her children to school, of which three (3) are already graduates of Senior Highschool.
On the other hand, Rowena Boncodin who is from Brgy. Irisan who was included in 2012 as part of Set 6 said that they also have responsibilities as partner beneficiaries. “Napili akong parent leader. “Hindi madali pero tinanggap ko dahil ko ayaw kong puro [tanggap] lang. Gusto ko rin mag- share kung ano man ang kaya ko. Kahit mahirap lang ako. doon ko nasubukan na humarap at mag-salita sa harap ng maraming tao. At doon din, marami kaming natutunan sa aming FDS. Iba’t ibang organisasyon, at may mga pastor pa na nagtuturo sa amin ng livelihood. Doon din kami ay nagsama-sama sa pag serbisyo sa barangay at eskwelahan sa pamamagitan ng buwanang clean and green at pag-attend ng meeting sa barangay”, Boncodin said.
“Ipinayo ko rin [sa aking mga anak] na huwag sayangin ang tulong galing gobyerno. Samantalahin nila na may tumutulong upang mabago ang kanilang buhay, Sabi [ko] ayaw ko na danasin nila ang hirap na pinagdaanan ko at makakamit lang nila iyon kung sila’y makakatapos sa pag-aaral”, she said emphasizing the importance of complying with the conditionality under education.
“Sa panahon na nakatapos na ang anak ko ,naisip ko dapat ‘yung iba naman ang makapasok sa Pantawid Pamilya [upang] matulungan ng gobyerno na mabago ang buhay. Kung goal nating [lahat] ang “free the next generation from poverty”, sa palagay ko, mababawasan ang mga taong nasa laylayan ng lipunan. Sa pagtatapos namin sa 4Ps, wala akong masasabi kung hindi maraming salamat sa gobyerno at sa mga taong napapaloob sa programang ito. I am very proud to say, hindi nasayang ang tulong nyo sa pamilya ko. We made it”. This statement demonstrates how ready Boncodin is to leave the Program.
As of 20 October 2025, there are 29 Pugay Tagumpay activities conducted in the Region. The Pugay Tagumpay is the Program’s graduation ceremony conducted for 4Ps households who are able to attain self-sufficiency. Part of this is the ceremonial turnover of the household case folders to the Local Social Welfare and Development Office which symbolizes the LGU’s acceptance of the responsibility to further assist the families towards development.
Under Republic Act 11310 or the 4Ps Act, partner beneficiaries are given a maximum of seven (7) years to improve their level of well-being. Aside from improved level of well-being, households with no child eligible for monitoring are also qualified to exit from the Program. For Baguio City, there are 45 households that graduated for this batch.
As of 8 September 2025, there are 1,510 active Pantawid Pamilya households in Baguio City.
