SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian yesterday said the cash aid to be given to poor pregnant and lactating mothers, and those with children who are two years-old and below is “temporary until such time that they have passed through the stage.”
Gatchalian said the additional grant to be given to subset beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is aimed at incentivizing pregnant and lactating mothers to avail of pre-natal health services, and to address malnutrition and stunting among poor children.
Once the children reach the 1,000-day age, the grant will stop, added Gatchalian.
President Marcos Jr. on Tuesday approved the provision of additional cash aid to pregnant and nursing mothers and those who have two-year old children, or kids whose ages are within the first 1,000 days of their lives, who are currently included in the list of 4Ps beneficiaries.
Assistant Secretary and spokeswoman Irene Dumlao said the DSWD would “filter” the 4Ps list to identify the pregnant and lactating women and the families with zero- to two-year-old children as the additional grant would only be given to them.
“(We’re) expanding the cash grants for them to engender their health and well-being, especially among pregnant women. The first 1000 days of a child is also crucial to the child’s brain growth and this is the fundamental stage,” Dumalo said in mixed English and Filipino.
Dumlao said the DSWD and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) are still determining the appropriate amount to be given to the additional beneficiaries
Under the present 4Ps, a household-beneficiary receives cash aid on the condition that their children attend school and are brought to health centers for their monthly medical check-up.
Household beneficiaries of 4Ps with elementary students receive P300 per child per month for 10 months; P500 per child per month for 10 months for junior high school; and P700 per child per month for 10 months for senior high school.
