Good Practices in San Mariano

San Mariano, Isabela -- Last May 5, 2009, a total of P1, 624,400 was distributed to 877 4Ps beneficiaries. It was a rainy day. For the beneficiaries, the rain meant only blessings. Some beneficiaries arrived three hours earlier in their eagerness to receive their much-anticipated conditional cash grant. Their excitement overflows as they share their little victories and stories of hope.

Borrowing money or “utang” is pervasive in almost all cultures but is practiced differently in rural areas in the Philippines. In other cultures, credits are for major purchases like house or car because these things are normally acquired through installment. But in the case of the rural poor, even daily necessities like salt, school allowance of their children, and food, are oftentimes borrowed.

Martha Bumanglag, a resident of Brgy. Bitubian, San Mariano is a 4Ps beneficiary who used to rely on “utang” to buy their basic family needs. She remembered that they would always borrow from neighbors and when misunderstandings arise between them, the issue of debts would be brought up. The other party would hurl insulting remarks at them and they would have no choice but to keep quiet.

Now that they are receiving cash grants from 4Ps, Aling Martha proudly says they can already afford to buy food and give their children allowances and school materials without borrowing money from neighbors. She also added that majority of men in San Mariano whose favorite pastime is drinking liquor have either stopped or regulated their alcohol intake. The change in the drinking habit of men resulted to less violence towards their wives and children. Harmony in households has improved because the beneficiaries are complying with the conditions of 4Ps which include attendance of parents or guardians in responsible parenthood sessions and parent effectiveness seminars.

Gambling is also a vicious activity that the poor resort to in the hope of escaping from bleak poverty. Julie Aggan, another 4Ps beneficiary from Sonti, San Mariano said that she used to be an avid gambler in their community but when she became a 4Ps beneficiary, she learned to become responsible. Gambling is no longer part of her routine. Instead, she attends to her family’s needs and devotes her time to attending mother’s classes and responsible parenthood sessions. The P1, 400 monthly cash grant she receives is allotted for the needs of her family.

Health awareness has improved in the community as well. Mrs. Emerita Molano, the Municipal Link, proudly testifies that all pregnant women in San Mariano religiously get pre-natal care. They visit the health center monthly during their first and second trimester and twice a month or weekly during their third trimester up to the expecjeted date of delivery to ensure their health and that of the baby.

The health center provides free medicines and vaccinations to improve the health of children. Jessabelle Jacob, thirteen years old and a resident of West Sitio, Binaguan, San Mariano said that they have learned to take advantage of these health benefits when they became 4Ps beneficiaries. According to her, she and her siblings are gradually gaining weight since they started visiting the health center because of 4Ps.

Jessabelle Jacob and her one month old brother who receives support from 4Ps Jessabelle also shared that when 4Ps started, attendance rate in classes improved. She enthusiastically said that her classmates are present almost everyday. Before, they had to cut classes to help their parents earn a living. When they became part of 4Ps, they go to school worry-free, no longer thinking where to get money for their family and school needs. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program also known as 4Ps aims to cut intergenerational cycle of poverty through investment in human capital. A household-beneficiary can receive as much as P1, 400 each month. The cash grant includes P500 per month for nutrition and health expenses and P300 monthly per child with a maximum of 3 children per household for educational expenses. Household-beneficiaries must comply with certain conditions to continue receiving cash grants. The conditions are the following: parents must ensure that their children attend school at least 85% of the time, and receive vaccinations and preventive health care. Pregnant women must receive pre- and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by a skilled health professional. Parents must attend responsible parenthood seminars, mother's classes, and parent effectiveness seminars. It is very comforting to note in the accounts of the beneficiaries that they have learned to deviate from practices that only bind them further to poverty. Furthermore, they have switched to more productive practices that would liberate them from their wretched status in life. ### 4Ps Social Marketing Unit - June 8, 2009