MASBATE CITY, Masbate (PIA) -- Ten municipalities in the province of Masbate have created teams to investigate reported cases of “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino” Program (4Ps) beneficiaries engaged in the illegal pawning of cash cards.

These municipalities have outlawed card pawning and will penalize individuals and corporate entities accepting 4Ps cards as loan collateral with a fine of up to P5,000, imprisonment of not more than a year, or both.

The violators’ business permits will also be revoked.

The 10 municipalities that have prohibited card pawning include: Aroroy, Cataingan, Dimasalang, Cawayan, Milagros, Balud, Uson, Palanas, Esperanza and Placer.

The town of Aroroy ordinance has even made employment in government an aggravating circumstance.

Its ordinance decrees that government employees or officials who violate the law will be prosecuted under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713).

Household beneficiaries who are found guilty of misusing their 4Ps cash cards will be recommended for delisting to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

4Ps is a national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital development investment program that aims to improve poor households' health, nutrition, and education through conditional cash grant transfers.

The program was established in 2019 through Republic Act 11310 and is implemented by the DSWD.

Over the last five years, the multi-agency advisory body for DSWD- Masbate Operations Office (DSWD-MOP) has noted a relatively high incidence of pawning of 4Ps cash cards.

The group said that if this action continued without intervention, the pawning of cash cards would negatively impact the program's objective of enhancing the beneficiaries' health, nutrition, and education.

The ordinances defined pawning as an act of giving the 4Ps ID card, or oath of commitment to a loan financier or loan shark as collateral or security for money borrowed or a credit on items or goods.

The leaders among the 4Ps beneficiaries welcomed the enforcement of penalties.

Banners reading “We support the 4Ps Anti-Pawning Ordinance” were displayed to show support.

The municipal social welfare officers and the coordinators of DSWD to the municipalities have been designated to investigate individual and corporate lenders, as well as 4Ps beneficiaries.

DSWD coordinators are pushing for anti-pawning measures in 10 other towns of Masbate, according to DSWD-MOP head Lara Ocharan.  (PIA5/Masbate)