DSWD expands First 1,000 Days cash grants for qualified 4Ps beneficiaries

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has begun rolling out an expanded First 1,000 Days (F1KD) cash grant package, increasing the monthly benefit for qualified Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries from P350 to P750.

The enhanced grant, implemented under Memorandum Circular No. 10, Series of 2026, took effect on July 9 and aims to strengthen support for maternal and child health and nutrition during the critical first 1,000 days of a child's life, according to a DSWD news release.

The initial rollout covers 5,536 newly qualified F1KD beneficiaries, who will receive the increased monthly grant of P750 for Pay Period 3 (May–June 2026). Existing F1KD beneficiaries will also begin receiving the higher grant starting the same pay period under the program's phased implementation.

The DSWD said more than 180,000 qualified beneficiaries nationwide are expected to benefit from the expanded cash grant package this year. The additional assistance will be released through beneficiaries' Land Bank of the Philippines cash cards or registered e-wallet accounts.

The F1KD cash grant provides supplemental financial assistance to eligible 4Ps households to help meet the health and nutrition needs of pregnant women and children from conception to age two—a period considered crucial for physical growth, brain development, and overall well-being.

4Ps National Program Manager Mary Rose Oquindo-Pasibi said the increased grant reflects the government's commitment to improving maternal and child health.

"The increase in the F1KD Cash Grant strengthens our investment in the health and nutrition of pregnant women and young children and helps ensure that every Filipino child has the best possible start in life," she said.

The DSWD said the adjustment was approved after an assessment found that the previous P350 monthly grant was no longer sufficient to cover the rising costs of food, medicines, vitamins, transportation, and other essential needs of pregnant women and young children.

To continue receiving the F1KD grant, beneficiaries must comply with program requirements, including regular prenatal and postnatal checkups, facility-based delivery with skilled health professionals, routine child health consultations, and age-appropriate immunization for children up to 24 months old.

The agency also urged eligible 4Ps households to update their family records by submitting the Beneficiary Updating System (BUS) Form 5 through their assigned City or Municipal Link or via the I-Registro online platform, together with the required supporting documents.

The F1KD strategy forms part of the health and nutrition component of the 4Ps, which seeks to promote healthy pregnancies, improve early childhood nutrition, and prevent stunting and other nutrition-related conditions. Implemented under the 4Ps Act, the program continues to provide social protection interventions for poor and vulnerable Filipino families.—LDF, GMA News