SOME 82 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) received financial assistance from the Cagayan de Oro City Government for their business start-up.

According to City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a, the cash assistance is part of the package that the city promised to the beneficiaries who have passed the skills training conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) from July to November last year. They were able to take short-term courses relating to cookery, housekeeping, and welding.

Sabuga-a said the P1,500 cash assistance for each of the 4Ps beneficiary should help the beneficiaries start their own business.

“This is a joint program of the city and DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) to really help the identified poor families to stand up on their own. The skills training is part of our after-care program and interventions for the 4Ps beneficiaries in the city,” he said.

This year, the DSWD and the city will choose another set of beneficiaries who are interested to change the direction of their lives, he added.

“We are looking for those beneficiaries that are willing and will not force others to join. We will prioritize those who are ready and prepared,” he added.