MAASIN CITY (PIA) -- In love there may be forever, but in government assistance, definitely, there is no forever.

This was the message shared by Mayor Nacional Mercado during the graduation rites of 101 households who no longer be part of the anti-poverty program 4Ps in the city.

The event was aptly titled “Pugay Tagumpay,” with the theme, “Pagkilala sa pamilyang nagtapos bilang miyembro – benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” honoring the graduates.

“Membership in 4Ps is not forever.  You will not be always depending on assistance from the government,” Mercado told the first batch of graduates Thursday at the city gym, whose faces mostly reflect not joy and excitement but a serious, far-away look.

Records showed there are 2,641 households who are active members of 4Ps in the city, and this will be lessened by 101 households.

The initial, detached batch is still lucky to have been a member for nine years, because at present “graduation” time is set after seven years, the mayor said, adding that other national government agencies, including the city LGU, will take over where the DSWD left.

Attending the graduation ceremony was OIC-Regional Director Grace Subong of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and several heads, representative of national line agencies with programs directly catering to the grassroots, such as TESDA, DOLE, BFAR, DTI, among others.

In her speech, Subong noted that the seemingly worried faces of the graduates was because of separation anxiety, saying the goal of pantawid, as the tagalog word implies, is to cross over from an abject situation of poverty to a level-up one.

“You are the face of the 4Ps program,” Subong emphasized with a hint of encouragement, adding that by their graduation the funds invested by the government have not gone to waste.  (LDL/MMP/PIA-8/Southern Leyte)