With the start of classes in public schools, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reminded the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) that their school-aged children are enrolled and regularly attending their classes.
“Ngayon simula ng pasukan, nais naming ipaalala sa ating mga 4Ps beneficiaries na patuloy sanang gabayan ang kanilang mga anak at siguraduhin na sila ay pumapasok sa paaralan. Ito ay mahalaga, hindi lamang para sa compliance ng inyong educational grants kundi para na rin masigurado na magkakaroon ng magandang kinabukasan ang inyong mga anak,” Director Gemma Gabuya, the 4Ps National Program Manager (NPM), said on Wednesday (June 18).
Director Gabuya said the program’s education criteria for receiving cash grants include ensuring children aged 3-18 are enrolled in school and maintain an 85% attendance rate.
The 4Ps director also thanked parent-beneficiaries who participated in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Brigada Eskwela 2025.
“Sa mga 4Ps parents natin mula sa iba’t ibang mga lokalidad na tumulong sa ating mga guro sa paglilinis, pagkukumpuni, at pag-aayos ng ating mga silid-aralan, kami ay nagpapasalamat dahil sa inyong pakikilahok sa Brigada Eskwela 2025. Dahil po sa inyo ay makasisiguradong ligtas at malinis ang mga paaralan ng inyong mga anak,” Director Gabuya said.
Aside from participating in the Brigada Eskwela, the 4Ps also implements its Bata Balik Eskwela (BBE) campaign to encourage out-of-school children from low-income families to return to school through formal education or the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
“Sa tulong ng Bata Balik Eskwela, bibigyang pansin natin at titiyakin na mananatili sa paaralan ang mga 4Ps monitored children. Nakahanda rin tayong gabayan at alalayan ang mga batang hindi nakaka-comply sa kondisyong pang edukasyon ng programa,” Director Gabuya explained.
Launched in 2008 and institutionalized by Republic Act (RA) 11310 in 2019, the 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfers to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve their children’s health, nutrition, and education.
To continuously avail of the cash grants, the beneficiaries should comply with a number of conditionalities, including sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for check-up, and attending the Family Development Sessions (FDS) conducted by the Department.
The program prioritizes the health and education of children as a means to achieve development and break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. (AKDL)