CABARROGUIS, Quirino, March 28 (PIA) -- The Provincial Advisory Council of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the province is set to conduct series of dialogues with the barangay officials, parents and the 1,315 4Ps children who were listed as out-of school youth as of December 2017.

Laura D. Alcon, provincial link, said majority of these youth and children came from Diffun with 420, followed by Nagtipunan with 253; Aglipay-242; Maddela-188; Cabarroguis-123 and Saguday-89.

Alcon said among the identified reasons why these children failed to enroll this school year are: they are already working (472), they expressed disinterest to go to school (323); early marriage (99); parents’ decision (86); financial problems (49) and early pregnancy (46). Other reasons include: distance, being sickly, sibling care and bullying.

Agaton Pagbilao, provincial social welfare and development officer, said the problem must be addressed immediately as he assured of the full support of the Team EMBRACE (Empowering Movement for the Better Integration and Advocacy in Caring Environment).

“Our team will not only cater to the needs of the Tokhang responders, we will now work hand in hand with the Council so that the 4Ps parents and children will be given proper counseling if necessary,” Pagbilao said.

Pagbilao also heads the Team EMBRACE composed of social workers, guidance counselors, psychologists, psychometricians and health workers.

Alcon, on the other hand, thanked the full support of the Council and the Team EMBRACE saying that collaborative efforts are very important in bringing these children and youth back to school and increasing the compliance rate of the 4Ps beneficiaries on school attendance. (ALM/TCB/PIA 2-Quirino)