The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) does not reduce the amount of cash grants of program beneficiaries without valid reasons.
This was emphasized by Director Gemma Gabuya, the 4Ps National Program Manager (NPM), in response to a question from a netizen asking if the amount of cash grants that they will receive will be reduced if they are not registered under the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).
“Hindi totoo iyan, in fact, lahat ng ating mga beneficiaries tinutulungan natin na magkaroon ng ID. So mayroon tayong partnership ngayon with PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) doon sa ating PhilSys ID [registration]…andyan talaga on site yung pagpapa-register nila para magkaroon ng national ID. So hindi ho sila binabawasan,” NPM Gabuya said during the June 25 episode of the DSWD’s online program, “4Ps Fastbreak.”
The 4Ps manager explained that the household-beneficiaries are encouraged to register to the national ID system so that they can avail of the benefits of having a national identification card.
“Hindi na kasi sila mahihirapan pag halimbawa, mayroon na silang hihingiin na mga services, hindi na sila hihingian ulit ng maraming ID,” Director Gabuya said.
Those who register with Philsys may also avail of the Family Development Sessions (FDS) compliance equivalency for two months.
The 4Ps beneficiaries can register with PhilSys at various designated centers, such as barangay halls, malls, FDS co-location venues, and special sites organized by the PSA.
Director Gabuya also explained that reduction on grants can only happen if beneficiaries were not able to comply with the conditionalities of the program or if they failed to update their beneficiary profiles with their city or municipal links.
“Usually nakakaltasan lang siya or hindi kumpleto ang kanyang grants kung sila ay hindi mag-comply. Talagang hindi sila mabibigyan ng grants pag hindi sila nag-comply ng mga conditions or minsan kasi, nawawala yung kanilang ATM,” Director Gabuya pointed out.
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 FDS conducted monthly by the Department.
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. (AKDL)