Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte — The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Provincial Operations Office (POO) of Agusan del Norte spearheaded a joint field visit of the Provincial Advisory and Grievance Committees (PAC/PGC) and the City Convergence Advisory Committee (CCAC) on August 31, 2025, in Barangay Puting Bato, Cabadbaran City.

The activity was joined by SP Member Inez Rosario Amante, Chair on Social Services, along with representatives from provincial agencies including PDOH, DILG, TESDA, DOLE, DepEd, PhilHealth, DAR, PGO-ENRD, DTI, and KALAHI-CIDSS. City-level partners from CSWDO, NCIP, CPDO, TESDA, CHO, CAO, and COO staff also participated. Courtesy visits were made to the Mayor’s Office, represented by Hon. Amante, and to Punong Barangay Joel Embalsado at the barangay hall.

The joint field visit aimed to assess health and education facilities relevant to 4Ps implementation, monitor cash card usage among beneficiaries, evaluate 4Ps gardens, and gather feedback, best practices, and insights from program graduates, beneficiaries, and partner agencies. Four teams were mobilized for the activity: Team A interviewed exited 4Ps households, Team B visited Puting Bato National High School, Team C assessed the barangay health center, while Teams D1 and D2 monitored cash card usage and household gardens.

Findings, challenges, and recommendations were presented during an exit conference at Rosedale’s Place. A highlight of the event was the testimony of the café’s owner, a former 4Ps beneficiary, who shared how she successfully transitioned from the program to becoming a small business owner.

The POO expressed its gratitude to the provincial and city governments of Agusan del Norte and Cabadbaran, through the PSWDO and CSWDO, for their support and funding that made the joint field visit possible. More than just a monitoring activity, the joint field visit highlighted the importance of strong local partnerships and direct engagement with beneficiaries. It reaffirmed that the 4Ps is not only about extending aid but also about empowering families to achieve self-sufficiency and building communities that thrive with dignity and resilience.