4Ps helps beyond financial aid, says magna cum laude

By Rosalita Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte --- The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) not only provides financial assistance but also enriches our minds and lifestyles while teaching us to prioritize education.

This insight comes from 4Ps beneficiary Christian Rempillo, who graduated magna cum laude.

Rempillo said that the conditional cash transfer program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) not only supports families during challenging times but also imparts essential knowledge and confidence, enabling them to move forward independently.

Rempillo, 21, hails from Basud, Camarines Norte, and was a 4Ps beneficiary from elementary school through senior high school.

The DSWD also supported him in college, particularly in the development of his thesis, which focused on the 4Ps program.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and graduated magna cum laude from Camarines Norte State College on June 24, 2025. In addition to his academic honors, he was recognized with the Best Thesis and Best On-The-Job Training awards.

His thesis, titled “Financial Literacy and Budget Prioritization of Former Beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Basud, Camarines Norte,” was selected as one of the Eight Best Papers out of 100 submissions at the National Arts and Sciences Research Congress 2025. This event was hosted by Camarines Sur Polytechnic College via Zoom on February 6-7, 2025.

“My sibling and I both graduated because of 4Ps. My older brother who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Financial Management has found a job, and my father, who had to work in construction areas in Metro Manila, has also returned home. We are now all together as a family,” Rempillo shared.

He recounted that whenever their family received financial aid, his mother would immediately set it aside for their educational needs. She would even keep receipts for rice purchases, in case they were needed during their family development sessions.

Rempillo reminisced about his experience during his on-the-job training at the DSWD, stating that it honed his knowledge and skills. He was able to experience not only being a beneficiary but also to see firsthand how aid is delivered to the community.

Rempillo also mentioned that his family graduated from the 4Ps program in 2021. He hopes to find a job soon, as it would greatly assist in the continued progress of their family. Additionally, he expressed optimism about the ongoing success of this government program.

This year, in the 4Ps program in Camarines Norte, 5,432 beneficiaries graduated from high school, 728 from college, and 120 passed board and Civil Service Commission examinations. Among the college graduates, one finished summa cum laude, 33 graduated magna cum laude, and 15 graduated cum laude.

Rempillo shared his story with the press at a recent media forum where DSWD Regional Director Norman Laurio was a guest. (PIA Bicol/Camarines Norte)