DBM OKs creation of over 4,000 jobs in 4Ps program

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the creation of over 4,000 positions to support the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

In a news release, the DBM said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman gave approval for the creation of 4,265 positions in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Supporting the 4Ps is crucial to inclusive development, empowering families, and breaking the cycle of poverty in the Philippines. With this move, we are also generating employment opportunities, which in some ways help stabilize our economy,” said Pangandaman.

The DBM said Project Development Officer II (PDO II) contractual positions were created to augment the existing staff of the DSWD to manage their workload better, aiming for a caseload of one case manager for every 300 households.

The agency said case managers play an important role in the successful implementation of 4Ps at the grassroots level since they directly interact with beneficiaries.

As of August 31, 2023, the Budget Department said the implementation of the 4Ps had covered a total of 3,976,653 household beneficiaries across 41,676 barangays in the entire country, or 90.38% of the 4.4 million target households.

Previously, the DBM had authorized the creation of 12,637 positions in the 4Ps program, of which 5,291 served as case managers.

Funds for the creation of 4,265 PDO II positions shall be charged against the available allotment of the DSWD, the DBM said.

If there is a deficiency, the agency said funding requirements will be sourced from the available appropriations in the 2024 national budget. —VBL, GMA Integrated News