DSWD hails Olympian Sarno, a 4Ps beneficiary

MANILA – Despite failing to secure a medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is proud of promising 20-year-old weightlifter Vanessa Sarno.

Sarno, of Tagbilaran City Bohol, was a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) household beneficiary, according to a DSWD news release on Sunday.

"Maraming salamat sa laban, Vanessa Sarno! Ang iyong pagsabak sa women's 71kg division weightlifting sa Paris 2024 Olympic Games ay isang inspirasyon para sa bawat Pilipino, higit lalo sa mga 4Ps households (Thank you very much, Vanessa Sarno! Your fight in the women's 71kg division weightlifting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is an inspiration to every Filipino, more especially to 4Ps households)," the Facebook post of the agency read.

Sarno's two younger siblings are 4Ps-monitored while her mother, a solo parent, is the household head.

"Mabuhay ka, Vanessa! Kasama mo ang buong 4Ps family sa iyong naging laban para sa Pilipinas (Long live, Vanessa! You are with the 4Ps family in your fight for the Philippines)!" the news release added.

Sarno was also a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.

The DSWD's 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum of seven years.

As of May 31, there are 4.3 million household-beneficiaries nationwide receiving conditional cash grants. (PNA)