The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to bring technology closer to the beneficiaries of the agency’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), particularly in Geographically Isolated Areas (GIDA), through its ‘e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan’ initiative.
Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera of the DSWD’s Conditional Cash Transfer Group (CCTG) explained to reporters during the agency’s Thursday Media Forum on May 29 that the “e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan”is a financial digital initiative of the 4Ps that aims to educate, inform, and encourage beneficiaries to utilize digital applications for managing their finances, especially for the beneficiaries living in remote areas.
“ Ang e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan ay isang estratehiya ng 4Ps para ipaabot ng matiwasay, ligtas, convenient at mabilis ang pagtanggap ng kanilang [beneficiaries] cash grants . Hindi lamang sa pagtanggap ng kanilang cash grants kundi turuan din sila sa mga tamang pagbabadyet ng kanilang kinikita at mag-impok mula sa kanilang kita,” Undersecretary Cabrera told reporters.
The DSWD’ senior official said this initiative started in 2019 but with the positive experience from implementing the project, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr has given his full support to this endeavor.
In 2024, under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the initiative was re-launched together with the partners who helped start the project such as Globe, Gcash, Ayala Foundation, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation, and Land Bank of the Philippines.
According to Undersecretary Cabrera, one component of the e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan is the distribution of mobile phones, donated by Globe Telecom, to beneficiaries who are still in the survival level as well as those living in GIDA areas.
The distribution of smartphones aims to help the 4Ps households learn safe and efficient ways of receiving their conditional cash grants through digital platforms and electronic wallets such as GCash.
“Napakalaking tulong nito. Marami sa mga beneficiaries natin ay nakatira sa liblib na lugar. Pagpunta nila sa ATM aabutin sila ng kalahating araw. Pagdating nila sa ATM ay sarado na o di kaya ay ang haba na ng pila,” the CCTG official told members of Media.
More than 32,000 beneficiaries are targeted to receive mobile phones in anticipation of their transition from the traditional ATM to digital payout.
Initial phone distribution were held in the Cities of Malabon and Navotas in the National Capital Region (NCR); Romblon and Palawan in the MIMAROPA Region.
Free phone distribution will be done in the Mindanao provinces in the coming months. (MBM)