From 4Ps to 4Ps: Beneficiaries of Bayabas initiate a community pantry

Posted on June 21, 2021

When the American professional boxer nicknamed as The Greatest said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth,” the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries of Bayabas, Surigao del Sur, lived by this statement.

*From 4Ps to 4Ps. The goods delivered all the way from the Bayabas municipal office.*

The idea was coined by Jude Limbaro, OIC-MSWDO of Bayabas, observing that a number of 4Ps beneficiaries has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He then consulted the Local Chief Executive, and the Municipal Link (ML) Stephanie May Salvame with the simple idea, and it turned out into a selfless initiative.

“Gisulayan lang pag-communicate ni ML ang mga parent leaders calling for any help o bayanihan; ug sa wala lang damha, paspas ug walang pag-alinlangan gayud ang ilang response (The municipal link just tried to communicate with the parent leaders for any help; and unexpectedly, they responded promptly with no doubt),” Maria Clarita Garcia-Limbaro, municipal mayor, shared via Facebook comment.

The 4Ps beneficiaries, both regular and MCCT-IP, happily carried their vegetables, root crops, kilos of rice, and other goods to the Bayabas municipal office last Thursday afternoon (June 17, 2021), set up a community pantry, and distributed it to all the COVID-19 affected beneficiaries/families. After the joyous distribution, ample goods were still left, so they decided to extend it to non-4Ps beneficiaries in the community.

With the strike of the pandemic, the community pantry served as a timely assistance especially that other municipalities and regions are now imposing the modified enhanced community quarantine all over again, thus affecting the movement of residents to and fro their areas.

One affected is Ailyn Cape, a recipient from Barangay Magobawok, who thanked her co-beneficiaries for the initiative.

*The municipal staff headed by Mayor Limbaro, and the 4Ps parent leaders set up the community pantry before the distribution.*

“To all co-4Ps beneficiaries who shared their blessing salamat sa iyo tabang sa mga covid positive og sa amo na-expose sa positive person dako ine na tabang. Salamat kadayaw sa inyo tanan, (Thank you for your help to all the COVID positive, and for us who were exposed, this is a such a big help. Thank you so much to all of you),” Cape posted in her Facebook account.

Truly, in the heart-warming act tag lined as “PANTAWID-CoViD mula sa PANTAWID-KAPATID: Bayabas Bayanihan Initiative for CoViD-affected 4Ps Beneficiaries from Fellow 4ps Beneficiaries,” Muhammad Ali’s words were brought to life. ###Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga)