Lontayao family’s 4Ps journey to break the cycle of poverty

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

SIQUIJOR ISLAND -- The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) has provided hope in many families. It has inspired and strengthened people to become better in the community to create a just and harmonious society.  

This is how the Lontayao family from Siquijor sees the program as they now considered to have reached their dream of owning a decent home that has electricity and water.

“Maayo na ang among kahimtang karon kay sa sauna tungod sa Pantawid Pamilya.” (Our situation now is better than the one we had before because of Pantawid Pamilya). Mechelle, the wife said in the ‘Salaysay ng Buhay ng Pamilyang Pantawid’.

Mechelle recalled that before the family became a beneficiary of the 4Ps, the family earned P140 in a week from the palm liquor they produced that sold for 4 pesos per one and a half liter.

“Because we do not have enough money to sustain our daily needs, my husband and I always quarrel,” Mechelle said in dialect.

She said that the family dream at that time was to improve their lives for the children to go to school, sustain their daily needs and have a secure home.

It was in 2009 that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) conducted an assessment at their community to evaluate the situations of families in the area, including their family where years later, they started to receive their cash grants from the 4Ps.

Mechelle stated that because of the cash grants, her family could now allocate some part of the money to improve their house, unlike before when all of expenses went for daily subsistence and even leaving them with inadequate resources.

“Naghinay-hinay kabag-o ang among kinabuhi sa dihang nasulod mi sa programa ug gipasabot pod nila sa moa ang mga kondisyon nga dapat sundon sama sa dapat compliant mi sa Health, FDS ug Education.” (Our lives gradually improved when we got into the program and they explained to us the conditions we need to comply such on health and education as well as attending the Family Development Session.) Mechelle bared.

She added that the FDS, as one of the conditions to follow in the program has greatly helped improve herself, her family and their community as they become confident to face the challenges in their lives and in the community.

According to Mechelle that the FDS led her to become one of the Child Development Workers in their community because of the many lessons and inspirations she got in their sessions. 

The Lontayao family is also known to have strong faith in God and active in their church.  Mechelle led the Basic Ecclesial Community in their sitio, where members are senior citizens.

Through the help from the training of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Mechelle said that her husband also found a job as a carpenter.

The family expressed their gratitude to God for the opportunity to help them cope with their financial, mental, and emotional struggles in building a stable family and home.  The greatest lesson Mechelle learned from the program is to stay positive in life and to remain united by lifting each other.

According to Mechelle that everything she learned from the FDS has made her family’s foundation stronger and the family agreed that the next goal is for the children to finish their studies and graduate from college, where they could land a good, decent job.

Mechelle said that the family hopes that after reaching this level of achievement, they are going to pay forward by helping those who are also in need to help break the cycle of poverty in their community. (Photos: DSWD7)