Bohol wins search for 2023 Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children in Region-7

A 13-year-old lad from Barangay San Jose, Getafe, Bohol bested all regional contenders from the four provinces in Central Visayas for the 2023 Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children initiated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Brilliant Gyle Enriquez, Grade 8 student, emerged as the regional winner for Central Visayas in the annual competition for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries. Enriquez beat the provincial winners from Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

However, the DSWD-7 said the other provincial winners will still join Enriquez as representatives of Central Visayas in the 4Ps National Children's Congress cum Araw ng Kabataan 2023 (NCC cum ANK) celebration on November 26 to 30, 2023, in Metro Manila.

The other winners in Central Visayas are Andres May Cawayan of Pilar town in Camotes Island, Cebu; Lady Ween Ambo of Basay, Negros Oriental; and Yasmen

Baguis of Lazi, Siquijor.

The city and municipal links of 4Ps nominated the winners for the provincial-level judging. Other nominees from Cebu include second placer Jane Jecel Torres from Barili and Charles Edrian Abajan from Talisay City who wound up third.

Bohol’s runners up are Christine Licomes of Dagohoy; and John Rendel Orbuda of San Isidro. In Negros Oriental, Chris Colegio of Guihulngan City ranked second while Dieshainlee Palomar of Manjuyod finished third place.

In Siquijor, Althea Bennis Abillo of San Juan ranked second while Divine Leth Malicay of Larena was in third place.

“As one of the stakeholders in 4Ps, the children-beneficiaries play an important role in fulfilling the education and health outcomes of the program. Indeed, the stories of our exemplary children are truly inspirational and worthy of emulation by other childrenbeneficiaries,” DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero said in a statement.

Lucero said that these children will be an addition to DSWD’s pool of local ambassadors who can promote children’s rights, specifically in health and education.

The competition aims to recognize children under 4Ps who serve as excellent examples in their households, schools, and communities and to encourage children to be active citizens by complying with the conditions of the program.

The regional and provincial winners will receive a cash prize and a certificate of recognition during the scheduled provincial awarding ceremony. The 4Ps is a program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households, primarily children aged 18 and below.

It is implemented by DSWD together with other government agencies, including the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH). –