4Ps beneficiary gives up cash assistance so 'others' can receive aid

A beneficiary of the Philippine government's poverty reduction program has returned cash aid given to him by the local government of Gumaca town in Quezon province, amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Norberto Bondoy said he returned P6,500 given to him by the Social Welfare and Development Office of Gumaca because he already received the cash grant under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD).

The 4Ps is the government's national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor household for a maximum period of 7 years, to improve their health, nutrition and education status.

According to the local government of Gumaca, Bondoy is the second person to return cash aid.

These beneficiaries opted to return the cash aid so the government can afford to reach out to more people who need assistance at this time that a Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is in place. -- Peewee Bacuno/BAP, GMA News