Some 1,598 families in the 27 barangays of Mabalacat received checks amounting to a total of P3,032,300 from the Pantawid Pamilya or 4Ps program of the national government.
Governor Lilia G. Pineda told the recipients that “ang pondong ito ay galing sa national government, iniutos ni Pangulong Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino at ipinatutupad ni Secretary Dinky Soliman ng DSWD sa buong bansa sa pamamgitan ng mga pangrehiyong tanggapan nito”.
The governor enjoined the recipients “Sana gamitin ninyo ito sa paraang makatutulong sa inyo, lalo na sa ikabubuti ng inyong mga anak”.
Florentina Calalang of the DSWD regional office assisted the governor in handing out the checks to the beneficiaries. She told them the amount may not be much but it will be of help in providing for the basic expenses of their families, especially for their children’s education.
“Ang perang ito ay magagamit ninyo para sa pangangailangan ng inyong mga anak, lalo na sa kanilang pag-aaral.”
The government believes that the education of poor but deserving students is the key to improving the quality of their lives which is one of the components of the 4Ps program.
The governor added that the government continues to design programs to assist the marginalized sectors in various ways.
Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales thanked the governor and the DSWD for continuing to help their constituents and urged the beneficiaries “gamitin ninyo ang lahat ng tulong sa tamang paraan at magsipag kayo at magsikap upang maitaas ang antas ng inyong pamumuhay”.
Representative Carmelo Lazatin of the first district echoed the same sentiments and revealed that he is “doing my share in providing similar assistance to my constituents”. This is the same support given to the program by board members Raul Macalino, Cris Garbo, and Tarcicio Halili, and the councilors of the town.
The governor assured the crowd that the national, provincial and other local governments in all regions of the country are doing their share in spreading the 4Ps services. (Eloisa P. Galang)
