Two former monitored children under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) ranked among the top performers in the September and November 2025 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), highlighting how government support can help break the cycle of poverty.

In a statement on 26 December, DSWD said former 4Ps monitored children Chariz Ann Rillamas Lucero and Clyde Zeph Payusan placed among the topnotchers in the 2025 LET.

“The Department extends its congratulations to former 4Ps monitored children Chariz Ann Rillamas Lucero and Clyde Zeph Payusan for once again demonstrating that effective government interventions, combined with hard work and dedication, can help achieve our mission of breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, DSWD spokesperson, said.

Lucero, from San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, ranked seventh in the LET Secondary Level.

“Parang panaginip po talaga. Hindi ko po naisip na mapapasama ako sa listahan ng topnotchers. Sobrang blessed po ako dahil napakalaking opportunity ito para mabago ang buhay ng aming pamilya,” Lucero said.

Payusan, from Dalaguete, Cebu, placed ninth in the LET Elementary Level.

In his testimonial posted on the DSWD Field Office 7 – Central Visayas Facebook page, Payusan expressed gratitude for the support he received from the 4Ps throughout his academic journey.

“The 4Ps goes beyond financial aid; it genuinely helps lessen the educational and economic struggles of families like ours. Rather than allowing these hardships to hold me back, they became the driving force that strengthened my determination, fueled my discipline, and inspired me to excel—leading me to become a topnotcher. This success is a shared victory. It is the result of my parents’ unending sacrifices, the guidance and assistance of 4Ps, and the belief that with perseverance and the right support, even the most difficult circumstances can lead to remarkable achievements,” Payusan said.

Dumlao said the achievements of former 4Ps monitored children underscore the Marcos administration’s goal of improving the lives of poor and marginalized families, particularly through education and health interventions.

“The remarkable accomplishments of our new LET passers serve as proof of the government’s commitment to inclusive growth and human capital development. Rest assured that the DSWD will continue to enhance the program and invest in the potential of every 4Ps monitored child,” she said.

The 4Ps program was launched in 2008 and institutionalized in 2019 through Republic Act No. 11310, or the 4Ps Act. It provides conditional cash grants to more than four million household beneficiaries, supporting children’s education through elementary and senior high school, as well as health and nutrition needs.