It’s just a small step, yet builds disciplined people, strong households and stable communities, and creates economic lifeboats as well!

With gardening as part of the program requirement, and a productive means in spending free time, the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) had come to realized that it is indeed a practical answer to some of their basic needs. Never had it crossed their minds that they could get hours of relaxation and enjoyment, a feeling of accomplishment, and fresh and nutritious food from their own backyards.

Catubig, is identified as one of the potential site for developing an intensive rice-producing area in Northern Samar. In this locality, be it a big or small house has spacious lot which is fitting for gardening. It made easy for the residents of Brgy 1 Poblacion to comply with the additional food requirements because they already have their pieces of land good for growing vegetables and crops.

Roselyn Estudillo, 37, parent-leader of Brgy. 1 Poblacion happily shared their experience as one of the 1,887 grantees of 4P’s in Catubig, implemented in year 2008. She enjoys their activities; yet they learn and discover new things resulting to good camaraderie among members. Now they could share their harvest which they call “sharing of blessing” to their neighbors.

In their backyard grew nutritious vegetables like beans, eggplants, tomatoes, as well as crops like camote. Her husband earns a minimal income from repairs of electrical appliances, this bothered her before how she could provide daily nutritious meals for her children.

“Sa pagkayana an kanra gatas, vitamins and school supplies masustinaran na namo, tungod san bulig nga cash grant san 4P’s ug san  amon gin tanom sa amon luyo nga mga utanon.” (For now, we could sustain their milk, vitamins and school supplies because of the cash grant from 4P’s and with the vegetable we planted in our backyards.) As a mother of three, namely, Thriesha Rose, 10, Therese Rose, 5, Immanuel Wade, 4- Rose sees the need to let her kids stay healthy. She believes that staying healthy and having good education are both foundation to reach higher goals in life.

“Mabaysay! Damu nga amon pagpasalamat nga nagkaada sin sugad sini nga programa an aton gobyerno. An am mga hingyap sadto para san kabubuwason san am mga anak, hinay hinay nam nga naaabat yana… Makakuha pa kami sin pagkaon sa amon libong ngan masustansya pa”, (It’s great! We are really thankful that we now have such program in the government. The dreams we had for our children’s future is slowly being realized… We can even get food from our own backyards that are nutritious too!), shared Rina Pajarito another 4P’s grantee who is a mother of six and a neighbor of Roselyn. As a parent leader for 22 beneficiaries in their barangay, Roselyn, as well as the townsfolk, felt the change in her daily routine. She visits her members to monitor their compliance with the program- from health and nutrition to school attendance of children. That is why most of their talks among parent-leaders when they get to mingle are but improvements from their gardens.

To monitor and to comply with the program are but small steps to progress yet, how it molds to the personality of an individual is another accomplishment.