DSWD resumes cash grants for 700,000 4Ps households

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will resume granting cash benefits to 700,000 households after the DSWD found that the households were still qualified under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) - an initiative that provides cash grants for the poorest of the poor families, House Committee on Poverty Alleviation Chairperson Michael Romero of the 1-Pacman party-list said Tuesday.

The benefits granted to the 700,000 4Ps households were suspended earlier in the year pending evaluation of their status by the DSWD.

Romero said the decision to resume the benefits for these 700,000 4Ps households was reached after the DSWD evaluation and after two meetings between Romero's committee and the DSWD.

“This legislative effort is a Christmas gift we intend to give our kababayans. We hope the DSWD makes it even more perfect by expediting distribution,” Romero said in a statement.

“The 700,000 families will also get paid retroactively [since the period of suspension],” Romero added.

Back in September, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, through budget sponsor and Representative Jocelyn Limkaichong of Dumaguete City, said that the DSWD was even keen to increase cash grants to 4Ps beneficiaries to keep up with the rising cost of commodities.

“They (DSWD) made representation with the DBM (Department of Budget and Management), and they are hoping that Congress will put a special provision in the 2024 proposed budget so we can fund this increase under the unprogrammed fund since this PIDS finding came out after the National Expenditure Program was done,” Limkaichong explained. 

The 4Ps allocation under the proposed 2024 budget is P112 billion. — DVM, GMA Integrated News