THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has showered praises on weightlifter Vanessa Sarno for her stint at the Paris 2024 Olympics and for being an inspiration to fellow Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) household beneficiary.
“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 Vanessa Sarno! Your participation in the women’s 71kg division weightlifting in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is an inspiration to each Filipino, especially the 4Ps households),” the DSWD said in a Facebook post last Saturday.
Sarno bombed out in Paris, failing to raise 100 kilograms in the snatch thrice. She apologized for her performance and vowed to return for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
She later complained of a “toxic” environment in her team, a development that weightlifting chief Monica Puentevella vowed to address as soon as they return home.
Despite her setback, the DSWD cheered for Sarno and expressed pride in her being part of the Philippine Olympic Team.
“Maraming salamat sa pagpapamalas ng lakas at galing ng bawat Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households. Ang iyong tagumpay ay isang karangalan para sa Pilipinas, lalo na sa 4Ps community. Ikaw ang patunay na ang pangarap ay kayang makamit sa pamamagitan ng dedikasyon at pagsisikap. Mabuhay ka! [Thank you for showing the strength and talent of each Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households. Your success is an honor for the Philippines, especially the 4Ps community. You are proof that dreams can be achieved through dedication and effort. Long live!],” it added.
Sarno, a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist who hails from Tagbilaran, Bohol, belongs to a 4Ps family — her two younger siblings are recipients of the program while her mother is a solo parent and head of the family.
The DSWD’s 4Ps is a national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years, to improve health, nutrition and education.
As of May 31, there were 4.3 million household-beneficiaries nationwide receiving conditional cash grants under the anti-poverty program.
