6 LET topnotchers 4Ps beneficiaries

CEBU, Philippines — Six former child-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Central Visayas have brought pride and honor to the region after stellar performances in the September and November 2025 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), highlighting the long-term impact of sustained government support and access to education.

Marjoe Mejias of Mandaue City and Clyde Zeph Payusan of Dalaguete, Cebu ranked fourth and ninth, respectively, in the elementary level. In the secondary level, four other former 4Ps beneficiaries also excelled in the board examinations: Jake Pradilla of Medellin, Cebu and Clara Mae Tangpos of Dalaguete, Cebu both placed ninth, while Leendon Gelborion of Argao, Cebu and Niño Sanchez of Buenavista, Bohol tied for 10th place.

“We are incredibly proud of our former 4Ps children who have become topnotchers in the recent results of the LET,” said Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero.

Lucero said their achievements demonstrate how programs like 4Ps empower children to overcome challenges, pursue education, and realize their dreams.

“They are living proof that when we invest in our youth, we are investing in the future of our nation,” she said.

Mejias dedicated his achievement to the DSWD and the 4Ps, describing his success as a shared milestone.

“Achieving my goal as a board exam topnotcher is a milestone I share with the DSWD and the 4Ps. Thank you for investing in my potential and providing a safety net during difficult times. My journey as a proud beneficiary constantly inspires my pursuit of excellence; I view my education as a way to give back. By equipping myself with the values of an educator, someday, I hope to help children who face the same difficulties I once did,” she said.

Mejias emphasized that the program’s support went beyond financial assistance.

“I am deeply grateful to 4Ps for assisting with everything from necessities to school-related expenses. Your support inspired me to dream big. This success is a testament to what happens when someone believes in a student’s dream,” she added.

For his part, Sanchez reflected on the hardships he faced growing up and how the program sustained his education.

“Coming from a humble family, with a carpenter father and a housewife mother, pursuing higher education has never been easy. There were truly moments when financial limitations made my dreams seem uncertain and difficult to achieve. However, the continuous support of the 4Ps gave me hope, strength, and the opportunity to continue my studies despite those circumstances,” he said.

Sanchez stressed that his achievement is shared with the program.

“Through the support of 4Ps, I not only finished my studies. I also achieved one of the greatest milestones of my life, becoming a topnotcher in the Licensure Examination for Teachers. This achievement is not mine alone; it is a shared success with the 4Ps, which believed in families like ours,” he added.

DSWD-7 noted that the accomplishments of the six newly licensed teachers underscore the long-term outcomes of the 4Ps, the national government’s flagship poverty reduction program. Through conditional cash grants, family development sessions, and close monitoring of education and health, the program helps ensure that children from disadvantaged households stay in school, complete their education, and pursue professional careers.

The agency said the six new teachers now stand as symbols of hope for current 4Ps student beneficiaries—proof that with perseverance, guidance, and meaningful government intervention, dreams can rise beyond poverty and help shape the nation’s future. — (FREEMAN)