1,754 Mt Prov families receive DSWD funds

By Juliet Saley

BONTOC, Mt. Province – There are now 1,754 families in the province who are beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The program started last year earlier covered the towns of Natonin, Paracelis and Sadanga but Besao was included this year.

Paracelis had 673 beneficiaries followed by Natonin with 665 and Sadanga with 223.

All started receiving cash assistance last year while 188 identified beneficiaries of Besao have still to receive theirs.

The government program aims to reduce poverty, hunger and enhance social development.

It also aims to achieve primary education particularly for marginalized families, promote gender quality, empowet women, reduce child mortality and improve maternal health.

4Ps provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education, particularly children aged 0-14.

It provides conditional cash of P6,000 per year or P500 per month per family for health; P3,000 per year or P300 per month per child for 10 months a year for a maximum of three children per household for education as long as they comply with rules.

The conditionalities: women should visit their local health center to avail of pre- and post-natal care, avail of appropriate delivery services by a skilled health professional and avail of one post-natal care within six weeks after childbirth.

Children 0-5 years old shuld be brought to the health center for immunization, must have monthly weight monitoring and nutrition counseling for children aged 0-2 years old and have quarterly weight monitoring for 25 to 73 weeks old.

It also provides that children 3-5 years old must attend day care or pre school classes while children 6-14 years old must attend elementary and high school classes at least 85 percent of the time.

Parents must also attend family development sessions at least once a month and ensure attendance in responsible parenthood sessions and family counseling sessions.

4Ps beneficiaries are now required to submit accomplished compliance report form as basis for payment of next assistance.

This was implemented only this year reason why some beneficiaries have not received the full amount which they used to receive before because of non-compliance to some conditionalities.