A former beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from Barangay Burboanan graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU) Bislig Campus in June 2026, according to a feature published by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on August 7.

Rona Mae A. Domogoy finished a Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in English. Her degree prepares her to teach English in high school.

Growing up on 4Ps

Domogoy told PIA that the program supported her from elementary school until she turned 18. "The assistance helped me continue my studies. My four siblings and I were all beneficiaries of the program," she said in a phone interview with PIA.

According to the PIA feature, the 4Ps grants helped her family buy notebooks, school uniforms and shoes. She said that as a child she looked forward to each payout not as extra money but as another chance to stay in school. She also admitted she did not fully understand her parents' financial burden until she was older.

After aging out of the program at 18, she enrolled at NEMSU's Bislig campus, the city's only state university campus.

What 4Ps is

The 4Ps is the national government's conditional cash transfer program for low-income households, run by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and made permanent by Republic Act No. 11310 in 2019. Families receive cash grants for health, nutrition and education as long as they meet conditions such as keeping their children in school and attending health checkups. Coverage for children ends at age 18, which is why Domogoy entered college without the program's support.

Her message to younger beneficiaries

Domogoy said she hopes her story reaches 4Ps children who are still struggling.

"My story is proof that when families are given opportunities and children are supported in their education, dreams become attainable," she said.

She told PIA that poverty should not define a person's future, and encouraged other beneficiaries to stay in school despite hardship. "Continue showing up, continue learning, and continue believing in yourself," she said.

Why it matters in Bislig

For many Bislig families, the cost of school supplies and transportation can decide whether a child stays in school. Domogoy's path, from 4Ps support in basic education to a degree with Latin honors at a public university in her own city, is the outcome the program was designed for.

For Bislig students finishing senior high school and worried about college costs, NEMSU-Bislig is a state university campus covered by the free tuition law, Republic Act No. 10931, for qualified students. The city government's own scholarship program, which Bislig Today has covered before, is another option. Students should check with the campus admissions office and the city scholarship office for current requirements and deadlines.

Source: Philippine Information Agency feature by Nida Grace P. Barcena, published August 7, 2026.