A calling to serve the 4Ps beneficiaries
TUBUNGAN, Iloilo – Ramon Pomperada grew up in a humble home in this town, the seventh of eight children. Life was never easy. With limited resources, he learned early that survival often meant sacrifice. While other kids were busy with school and play, Ramon took on part-time jobs just to help with the family’s daily needs.
When it was time for college, Ramon gave way to his younger brother, choosing to wait and work until his own opportunity came. That moment eventually arrived. With persistence and grit, he juggled work and studies until he earned a Bachelor of Science in Community Development from Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U).
For Ramon, that diploma was more than just a piece of paper, it was a key to making a difference in other people’s lives.
Soon after graduating, he joined the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as an Administrative Assistant under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR). But Ramon aspired for more. Within a month, he applied and was accepted as a Social Welfare Assistant (SWA) under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Just as his journey was gaining momentum, tragedy struck. On October 14, 2024, Ramon was involved in a serious motorcycle accident while returning to the office with his Municipal Link. He suffered a fractured cheekbone and was forced to take a two-month medical leave.
Many would have taken that as a sign to slow down but not Ramon. Even while recovering, he remained dedicated, helping his team with lighter tasks and refusing to stay idle. His supervisor had to repeatedly remind him to prioritize rest. But such is the spirit of someone who doesn’t just see his job as work, but as a true calling.
Ramon’s years in DSWD have deepened his insight into poverty and community transformation. To him, 4Ps is more than just financial assistance, it’s a way to restore dignity and hope.
“Yes, the cash grants are important,” Ramon explains. “But what matters more is how the program helps people believe that their lives can still change,” he added.
He believes the program can grow further with stronger psychosocial support, more sustainable livelihood skills training, and targeted interventions for Indigenous Peoples and the most marginalized. “That’s how we empower families to rise on their own,” he says.
Presently, Ramon continues to serve in the Municipal Operations Office in Tubungan as an “Angel in Red Vest” serving the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged with compassion and quiet strength.
He is living proof that hardship can shape purpose and that service born out of struggle is the most sincere of all. Ramon is one of the many unsung heroes at DSWD who choose to stay, not for the position, but for the mission to be part of real, lasting change.* (Submitted by Tubungan MOO, Iloilo POO)