SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo yesterday said more than 500,000 of the 1.3 million families that were supposed to graduate or be taken off from the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have already been removed.
Tulfo said the 700,000 other families are still included in the 4Ps list and will continue to receive assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
He reiterated that the 1.3 million families that were supposed to be taken out of the program were based on the 2019 “Listahanan,” which was taken before the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) happened. He said some families were ready to graduate from the 4Ps, but the pandemic affected them and made life harder for them.
Tulfo said the more than 500,000 slots would be replaced with other 4Ps candidates, which would come from the solo parent sector, persons with disability, farmers and fisherfolks, and the poor sector.
Tulfo also said that while not specified in the law, indigent solo parents may also be enrolled in the 4Ps.
Tulfo said solo parents will also start enjoying benefits such as discounts for the basic needs of children, including milk and diapers, school supplies and hospital bills; additional work leaves, scholarships and cash subsidies starting November 1 when the Expanded Solo Parent Act, or Republic Act 11861, becomes effective.
“Simula po sa November 1 ay mag-uumpisa na po iyong Solo Parent Act or law. Ang ibig pong sabihin, kung may kakilala kayo na solo parent o may mga solo parent ID, pwede na po nila iyung iprisinta sa mga tindahan kasi may mga discounts po iyun (Starting November 1, the Solo Parent Act or law will become effective. It means solo parents you know or those who have solo parent IDs can now present this in stores so they can enjoy discounts,” Tulfo said.
Tulfo said solo parents can buy VAT-free milks and diapers for their kids, get a 15 percent discount on school supplies, avail of a 20 percent discount on hospital bills for both the parent and child, and free enrolment with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
He said a grievance desk will be set up at DSWD offices where solo parents can file their complaints or raise their concerns if shops or offices refuse to comply with the law.
RA 11861, which lapsed into law on June 4, also provides the indigent solo parents with a P1,000 subsidy and allows them to seek child support from the other parent.
Meanwhile, Tulfo said the DSWD is now preparing for possible weather disturbances in the coming days. The weather bureau has said that a low pressure area is developing near the Philippine Area of Responsibility, which would be named “Paeng” if it enters the country.
He said the department has already prepositioned some food and non-food relief items in different provinces.
