DSWD: Release of 4Ps cash grants delayed

MANILA, Philippines — Some beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps have yet to receive their cash grants for December, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) confirmed yesterday.

Leonardo Reynoso, 4Ps national program manager, said the release of cash grants of beneficiaries paid through conduits of the Land Bank of the Philippines has been delayed to include an additional P2,400 or a subsidy of P200 per month to cushion the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law.

 “According to Landbank, it will be released starting April 24... Some areas in Manila started (releasing) last April 19,” Reynoso told The STAR.

Some beneficiaries complained that they have yet to receive their grants for December 2017 and January this year.

The DSWD said the payout for February and March is set next month. Last month, it released the grants of beneficiaries in Manila with no cash cards.

DSWD officer-in-charge Emmanuel Leyco gave assurance that around 2.6 million of around 4.4 million household beneficiaries of 4Ps who do not have cash cards would receive their TRAIN subsidy as well as their regular financial assistance and rice subsidy for January this month.

Leyco said 1.8 million of the beneficiaries with Landbank cash cards have received their grants during the first phase of the payout which started in March.

He said the release of the 4Ps grants is still subject to compliance with the requirements of the program, such as attending family development sessions. The children of beneficiaries should also attend their classes regularly and avail themselves of medical checkup and vaccines in health centers.

“We know how important this grant is to poor families. This is why we are working hard to hasten the process of determining the remaining beneficiaries so that they can receive their… cash grants,” Leyco said.

“Rest assured, the DSWD is doing its best and exploring various measures to ensure that all target households and individuals will receive their grants within the year,” Leyco said. – With Rainier Allan Ronda