THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development said that 272 poor families in Mindanao have graduated from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Raquel Nuez, DSWD-11 director, said that the “graduates” are now self-sufficient and capable of standing on their own without government assistance.

“Before they were on survival level, this time they are already self-sufficient. They can now access other government assistance,” Nuñez said.

Among the graduates were 125 households from Davao del Norte, 43 from Davao del Sur, 13 from Davao Occidental, 65 from Davao de Oro, and 26 from Davao Oriental.

DSWD-11 regional program coordinator Margie Cabido said that the program hews to the government’s mission of assisting poor families through investments in health and education.

She stressed that the success of the program depends on the cooperation between the DSWD, local government units, national government agencies, and beneficiaries.

“DSWD cannot single-handedly achieve the goals of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, that’s why we are asking for the continued cooperation of the different local and national government agencies, as well as the beneficiaries. For this, we are very thankful to our partners,” she said.