CEBU CITY, Cebu, Nov. 23 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 7 (DSWD-7) is eyeing to add a total of 41,091 new beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). 

According to DSWD-7 Regional Information Officer Leah Quintana, the social welfare agency urges people to look into the list which is already posted in the barangays to help the government in cleaning up or putting families into the list.   

“The public is encouraged to validate the master list so as to ensure that only eligible households become part of the 4Ps program. The validation process is done either through a community assembly or a house-to-house visit of the Pantawid staff," said DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala. 

Geamala added that the validation and registration are ongoing in the different cities and municipalities in Central Visayas, where copies of the master list of potential 4Ps beneficiaries are posted in conspicuous spaces in the barangay, city, and municipal halls.

“Furthermore, these potential 4Ps households are required to submit the marriage certificate, birth certificate, school enrollment certificate, health enrollment certificate, valid identification card or other alternate documents as part of the supporting documents during the registration,” said Geamala.

New beneficiaries are encouraged to approach assigned 4Ps City and Municipal Links (C/MLs) for the registration schedule.

During validation and registration, they are expected to follow minimum health protocols like wearing of face mask, hand sanitizing, and physical distancing.

According to Quintana, Cebu province has the highest number of new beneficiaries with 34,107, followed by Bohol with 6,956, and Negros Oriental with 27.

Currently, there are 282,667 4Ps households in Central Visayas. 

Quintana added that DSWD implemented the program nationwide, covering 4.4 million households and it continues to reach more poor households by replacing those who have exited and will exit from the program.

The 4Ps National Advisory Council (NAC) passed Resolution No. 43 institutionalizing replacement policy of 4Ps households by those not covered by the program. 

The list of potential 4Ps beneficiaries comes from the Listahanan database of the 2015 household assessment.

Aside from being identified as poor from Listahanan, a 4Ps household must have children aged 0-18 or a pregnant member at the time of the household assessment and must be willing and able to comply with the conditionalities of the program as part of their co-responsibilities.

4Ps is a national government program that invests in the human capital of poor households.

Implemented through DSWD, it was institutionalized in 2019 by virtue of Republic Act 11310.

It has become the national poverty reduction strategy of the government that provides cash grants to improve the health, nutrition, and education aspects of their lives.

The program also provides psychosocial and psycho-educational components through the Family Development Session (FDS), leading the beneficiaries to an improved and sustained well-being

The households are given cash grants in exchange for their compliance with the program's conditionalities.

These include school attendance of at least 85% per month for children enrolled in pre-school, elementary, or high school; children aged 5 and below to undergo preventive check-up as mandated by the Department of Health; children enrolled in elementary to receive deworming pills twice within the school year; pregnant women must receive pre-natal and post-natal care, based on DOH protocol; and parent/s or guardians to attend monthly Family Development Sessions. (JSME/PIA7 with reports from DSWD)