Baguio City—Parent Leaders (PL) and selected beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from the different barangays of the municipality of La Trinidad, Benguet gained practical knowledge and skills in their active participation in the School-on-the-Air (SOA) Program, which was a joint initiative of the 4Ps Provincial Operations Office (POO) – Benguet, 4Ps Municipal Operations Office (MOO) – La Trinidad and the La Trinidad Municipal Local Government Unit (LGU).
“This has given us a sense of fulfillment,” said Susan C. Delmas, a PL from Brgy. Balili and one of the participants. “This is a reminder for us that learning is a continuous process, regardless of age. We are so thankful for their collective efforts to reach us.”
Composed of four learning modules, the SOA on Leadership and Communication with 4Ps PLs was initiated in March 2026. The sessions, composed of the following modules, were streamed online on Saturdays of March to April 2026: Module 1: Understanding Communication and Leadership; Module 2: Leadership Communication; Module 3: Becoming an Effective Leader; Module 4: Leadership-Building Trust through Transparency.
Third Year College students of the Benguet State University—particularly the Bachelor of Science Development Communication – Community Broadcasting Majors—facilitated the weekly program, as part of their academic requirements. The learning sessions employed participatory communication approach and community visits were conducted to generate feedback and assess the progress of the participants.
On 27 April 2026, the project culminated with the graduation of forty-two (42) PLs and 4Ps beneficiaries at the Benguet State University (BSU). During the ceremonies, PLs shared their insights and perspectives they gained in the two-month course. To sustain the gains in the sessions, POO-Benguet and MOO-La Trinidad continue to closely coordinate with 4Ps partners and stakeholders such as LGU – La Trinidad and BSU to organize the event as a possible annual collaborative activity.
“The School-On-The-Air program is an innovative educational initiative that brings learning directly to 4Ps beneficiaries. Its importance is amplified because it bridges gaps in access to quality education and strengthens collaboration with partner agencies like Benguet State University which makes education inclusive for marginalized groups,” said Fatima D. Florendo, 4Ps Division Chief and Regional Program Coordinator.
“We have learned more on leadership and management, communication and a lot more. Effective leadership, they said, is influential—it includes transparency, accountability and good listening skills,” said Ms. Delmas. //Christian Robert M. Sandoval, IOII, 4Ps
