BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is now institutionalized as a regular program of the government’s poverty reduction initiative thru Republic Act 11310.
Dianne Emaguin of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)–Cordillera Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of Pantawid Pamilya program reported during the 2nd Semester Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC) meeting that President Rodrigo Duterte signed RA 11310 last April 17, 2019.
The signing of the law is the realization of a long time clamour of the beneficiaries to make the program regular. They played a role in achieving this goal by lobbying for the institutionalization of this program, Emaguin said.
Under the new law, the government will provide cash grants to qualified poor households for a maximum period of seven years
Qualified beneficiaries include farmers, fisherfolks, homeless families, indigenous peoples, those in the informal settler sector, and those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, including those areas without electricity who shall be automatically included in the standardized targeting system.
Revalidation of beneficiaries is set every three years.
On the issue raised that children of persons with disability are not included in the 4Ps, DSWD-CAR Regional Director Janet Armas clarified that under the 4Ps, the beneficiaries are households, so within the household if there are PWDs listed, they will avail of whatever benefits the members are availing.
Indigent families with PWD children are included as beneficiaries in the 4Ps. Of the 63,000 Pantawid Pamilya households in CAR, 707 PWDs are being served, Armas said.
She laid down the department’s program and services for PWDs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and the Sustainable Livelihood Program.
On the concern raised by PhilHealth that under the Universal Health Care Law, Philhealth membership will be divided into just two categories – the direct and indirect contributors. With the more than 69,000 LGU sponsored members in the region, is it possible that they be included in the 4Ps?
Armas said that if they are not listed under the Listahanan, they will not be covered under the 4Ps. **JDP/MAWC – PIA CAR
