THE Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) is expecting to complete by September its review of the status of some 1.4 million poor families under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and start the distribution of benefits thereafter.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said 1.4M families in the list include some 700,000 families that the department failed to assess due to the lockdowns that were implemented due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and the other 700,000 that graduated from the program before the pandemic but requested that they be re-admitted after reverting back to poverty due the pandemic.
Gatchalian, in a briefing after the sectoral meeting in Malacanang, said the funds are already available and the review of the 4Ps list is one of the reasons for the delay in the release of the program fund and budget underspending of the department.
He expressed confidence they would be able to complete their review and be able to catch up with their budget utilization for the rest of the year once the reassessment of 4Ps list is completed and the allocated funds are distributed.
He said the budget for the 4Ps, which benefits around 4.4 million households a year, accounts for almost half of the department’s budget or around P96 billion.
He said the reassessment or review of the list of beneficiaries is important to ensure the benefits are really given to the intended beneficiaries and those in need.
Gatchalian reassured the public that the department assessors do the review and verification and that local government officials have no hand in the selection of the beneficiaries.
He reminded the public that the department has an existing grievance committee to receive complaints or reports should they know of anyone who should not be included as beneficiaries or anyone should be included in the list.
Gatchalian said the DSWD received P151 billion for its social protection programs for 2023, which mostly goes to the 4Ps program, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, the semestral pension for indigent senior citizens, and the supplemental feeding program for day care center students.
Gatchalian also said the department has no issues with the planned supplemental feeding program of presidential adviser for poverty alleviation Larry Gadon.
Gatchalian, however, said he might need to coordinate with the other departments that are implementing similar programs. The DSWD implements supplementary feeding programs among day care students while the Department of Education has its own similar program for elementary students.
He said their common goals in the supplemental feeding program is to address malnutrition and stunting among kids.
Gadon, following his appointment, bared plans to launch a “Batang Busog, Malusog” feeding program for young students where he would ask some big companies to adopt public schools and feed the students.
