“Liwanagin po natin, wala pong ginastos ang ating pamahalaan sa mga cellphone na ito. Hindi po natin ginamit ang pera ng mga taxpayers para makabili ng cellphone at maipamigay sa ating mga beneficiaries.”
This was the explanation made by Division Chief (DC) Marie Grace Ponce of the Social Marketing Division (SMD) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as she shed light on queries regarding the distribution of mobile phones to 4Ps beneficiaries during the April 2 episode of the DSWD’s online program,“ 4Ps Fastbreak.”
According to DC Ponce, the mobile phones were donated by the Globe Telecom and G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), the operator of GCash, to help 4Ps grantees who are at Level 1 or Survival Level of well-being and those living in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) to easily access their cash grants via digital apps so they no longer need to withdraw from automated teller machines (ATMs).
DC Ponce also explained that the provision of mobile phones will help 4Ps beneficiaries to access and maximize the benefits of the country’s digital financial system since they will be able to apply the knowledge that they gained on digital financial literacy from their Family
Development Sessions (FDS).
“Ito yung gusto natin i-explore at ituro sa mga beneficiaries natin na may mga iba’t ibang pamamaraan kung paano nila ma-mamaximize yung ino-offer ng technology at nung e-wallet,” DC Ponce told 4Ps Fastbreak.
The mobile phone distribution is part of the “e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan” 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.
On March 18, some 50 beneficiaries from the Cities of Navotas and Malabon received mobile phones from the agency’s private partners.
The mobile phone distribution will also be rolled out in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), MIMAROPA, and Davao Region in the coming months.
The 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program of the Philippine government, with DSWD as the lead agency. Eligible household-beneficiaries are entitled to receive cash subsidies provided that the conditions on health, nutrition, and education are followed.
The ‘4Ps Fastbreak’ is hosted by Information Officer Venus Balito of the Strategic Communication Group’s Digital Media Service (DMS) and is aired every Wednesday, 11 am, using the DSWD’s Facebook platform. (AKDL)