The Municipal Operations Office (MOO) of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the municipality of Lingig, Surigao del Sur has gone through many challenges in implementing the Program’s mission, vision and goals; and the Program would have not been able to function without the constant support of the Municipal Government.

The MOO of Lingig is one of the pioneering areas of 4Ps implementation, with Set 1 household beneficiaries registered to the program in 2008. It had a rough start but eventually made it through the years.

The MOO staff has always been working hand-in-hand for the benefit and service of the household beneficiaries. There are lots of ups and downs but one thing always remains: the love to serve and present social protection to the poor and vulnerable families.

On the other hand, the local government unit (LGU) of Lingig has been working alongside the Program throughout the years; and with the LGU’s support, the Program implementers were able to function and work on things that they lack including financial support with the activities being conducted for benefit of its beneficiaries and of course the Municipality.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has different sectors that some 4Ps beneficiaries belong to; hence, as partners, the 4Ps beneficiaries are often invited to specific culminations or activities in order to educate and promote empowerment.

The LGU of Lingig has been continuously supporting the program. Lingig Municipal Mayor Elmer P. Evangelio and his constituents have not failed in looking into the needs of the MOO not just in terms of financial support to the latter’s activities but also with its assigned staff.

In March 2023, Sangguniang Bayan Members Hon. Elesia Gay-od and Hon. Ailyn M. Paler along with the Municipal Mayor Evangelio actively participated the Women’s Month Celebration and the Set 12A Registration.

Furthermore, the support of the LGU was felt even more when they saw the need for the staff to relocate or have their own operations office.

For the past years, the 4Ps staff has been operating and serving its clients in the Municipal Social Welfare Development Office (MSWDO). Prior to that, they even had their office at the nearby the Bureau of Fire Protection across the municipal gym which was destroyed during Typhoon Pablo wherein a lot of documents went missing and wet down.

Back then the operations office was too small and had no storage space for important documents. For that reason, the staff were advised to transfer to the MSWDO temporarily. Nonetheless, the MOO of Lingig was never given its very own workspace or office.

Mayor Evangelio saw this problem as he went to visit the operations office of the program last November 2022, and immediately passed on the information during the conducted Municipal Convergence Action Committee that they will find a safe location as a permanent location to serve as the 4Ps operations office.

In February 2023, the 4Ps staff were informed by the MSWDO Head Floranie L. Aparre that the vacant building across the Municipal Hall will be used as the 4Ps operations office.

The building was bigger, more ventilated, and can accommodate more clients. Aside from that, the staff can have a much more discrete conversation regarding the Program implementation since they no longer share the same office with the LGU workers.

Nonetheless, without the keen observation and support of the LGU to DSWD, the 4Ps staff would have been still working in a “not-so-very-conducive” operations office. (CORINA DIANNE T. AMPARO, RSW)