TOPNOTCHERS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. acknowledges Teacher Khane Jevie Cervantes (right) and Engr. Alexis Alegado (middle), two of the 35 board exams topnotchers in the past two years who were former monitored children of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday (July 22, 2024). According to the President, 420,000 families have graduated from the program since his last SONA in 2023. (RTVM Screengrab)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed elation over the success of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the government’s flagship anti-poverty program, which produced 35 board exams top-notchers from various fields in the last two years.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos said the conditional cash transfer program “not only consistently accomplished its annual targets” but has also “proven its efficacy over the years” in breaking the cycle of poverty across the country.
According to the President, 420,000 families have graduated from the program since his last SONA in 2023, of whom, 4,000 former monitored children are now licensed teachers.
“At hindi lamang iyon: tatlumpu’t lima sa mga topnotchers ng sari-saring mga board exams na idinaos nitong nakalipas na dalawang taon ay nagmula sa mga pamilya na benepisyaryo ng 4Ps (And not only that: 35 of the topnotchers of the various board exams held in the last two years came from families that were beneficiaries of the 4Ps),” Marcos said.
The President then acknowledged two of them who were among the spectators in the packed Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
"Ilan sa kanila ay si Teacher Khane Jevie Cervantes ng Davao Oriental, na nakuha ng number one sa Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers. Isa rin si Engr. Alexis Alegado na nanguna sa Civil Engineering Board Exams noong Abril ng nakalipas na taon (Among them is Teacher Khane Jevie Cervantes of Davao Oriental, who got the top spot in the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers. Another one is Alexis Alegado who topped the Civil Engineering Board Exams in April last year),” he said.
The Chief Executive also assured persons with disabilities (PWDs) of the government’s continued implementation of beneficial policies and programs that will guarantee equitable opportunities, special interventions, and incentives.
"Mula nang pumasok ang administrasyong ito, nagsimula na ang mga programang pangkabuhayan na nakalaan para sa ating mga PWDs. Sa susunod na taon, ilulunsad naman ng PhilHealth ang benepisyo nito para sa mga batang may kapansanan (Since this administration came in, the economic programs meant for our PWDs have started. Next year, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will launch its benefit for children with disabilities),” Marcos said.
“Halos dinoble na rin ang diskwento na ibinibigay sa mga PWDs, at sa mga senior citizen na tulad ninyo — para sa mga basic necessities at prime commodities (The discount given to PWDs, and senior citizens like you — for basic necessities and prime commodities has also been almost doubled),” he added. (PNA)
