The 23-member minority bloc in the House of Representatives has lauded the decision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to renew the payout of cash aid to 761,140 “reassessed” households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), including their withheld subsidies from January to September.
“We are grateful to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian for allowing the 761,140 reassessed household-beneficiaries to retroactively enjoy their much-needed cash grants starting November 30,” House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Representative Nonoy Libanan said.
“We had requested the resumption of the subsidies once the review of the conditions of the beneficiaries is completed.”
“In a recent a recent consultative meeting between House minority members and Secretary Gatchalian, we had requested the resumption of the subsidies once the review of the conditions of the beneficiaries is completed,” Libanan said.
“Right now, many poor families are getting distressed by soaring food prices. They have very little means to survive, and keeping them under the 4Ps will provide them meaningful relief,” the veteran legislator added.
A total of 1,158,249 households previously identified as “non-poor” in Listahan 3 recently underwent a DSWD reassessment using social welfare and development indicators.
As a result of the reassessment, a total of 761,140 households were found to be either at “subsistence” or “survival” levels, while 339,660 households were found to be at “self-sufficient” level.
The 761,140 households at subsistence or survival levels are expected to retroactively receive their withheld health and education grants starting November 30 this year and February 2024, respectively.
They will also be eligible again to receive rice subsidies.
The 339,660 self-sufficient households will undergo the 4Ps graduation process.
“The government is spending P112.8 billion in 2024 to cover the 4Ps education and health grants as well as rice subsidies of 4.4 million households.”
“The government is spending P112.8 billion in 2024 to cover the 4Ps education and health grants as well as rice subsidies of 4.4 million households,” according to Libanan.
The 4Ps is the government’s flagship poverty alleviation program that focuses on human capital development by extending cash assistance to eligible poor households, subject to their compliance with education and health conditionalities.
The program covers the following household-beneficiaries, as determined by the DSWD:
• Families registered in the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction;
• Victims of natural and man-made disasters rendered homeless and with no means of livelihood;
• Indigenous peoples in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas;
• Homeless street families; and
• Transitioning families under the 4Ps whose well-being have improved, but who may still be at high risk of falling back into survival as they insecurely live with little or no buffer against potential economic shocks.
Under the program, beneficiaries will receive the cash allowances for up to seven years as long as they comply with the following requirements:
• Pregnant women must avail of pre-natal services, give birth in a facility attended by a skilled health professional, and receive post-partum and post-natal care for her newborn;
• Children zero to five years old must receive preventive health and nutrition services, including check-ups and vaccination;
• Children one to 14 years old must avail of deworming pills at least once a year;
• Children five to 18 years old must attend elementary or secondary classes at least 85 percent of their time; and
• At least one responsible person must attend family development sessions conducted by the DSWD once a month.
