DSWD warns against exploiting program

CEBU, Philippines - With the 2016 elections just around the bend, the Department of Social Welfare and Development warned the public of possible attempts to politicize the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya Program.

It urged that the public report and expose politicians who will use the program for election purposes.

“This is a program of the national government. This should not be used as a tool for politicking,” said Brigida Goron, DSWD-7’s Cebu Provincial Link of the Pantawid Pamilya.

“There were already politicians reprimanded by the DILG or by the Comelec for using this program to gain votes,” Goron added.

In Cebu alone, there are 126,000 households identified as grantees of the program. There are 250,000 household grantees in Region 7.

Goron reminded the public that it is DSWD and not barangay officials – or any politician for that matter - that will determine the beneficiaries or grantees of the program.

DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilya (formerly called the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps) was patterned after the Conditional Cash Transfer program in Latin American countries such as Mexico, Colombia and Brazil, which has been proven successful as a poverty reduction and social development measure.

Designed to promote the Investment in Human Capital among poor families with 0-18 year-old children, the program works to help attain the following Millennium Development Goals: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, and improve maternal health.

Goron explained that household beneficiaries have to have a “counterpart” to be able to continue receiving the benefits of the program. Families with children under five years old must visit a health center to avail of immunization, weigh monitoring, management of childhood diseases and deworming pills twice a year.

Pregnant members of a household must visit a local health center to avail of the pre and post-natal care and appropriate delivery services by skilled health professionals.

Only families with a monthly income below P8,000 are considered under the provincial poverty threshold.

Parents and guardians must also attend family development sessions at least once a month, must attend responsible parenthood sessions and family planning sessions, and must participate in community activities to help promote and strengthen the implementation of the program.

Children ages three to five years old must be enrolled in a day care or pre-school program and maintain a class attendance rate of at least 85 percent per month. Children ages six to 18 years old must be enrolled in an elementary and secondary school and maintain a class attendance rate of at least 85 percent a month.

Grantees are receiving P500 per month or P6,000 per year, P300 per month per child in elementary and P500 per month per child in high school. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (FREEMAN)