Organizations urged to participate in 4Ps

CEBU, Philippines -  The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 reiterated its call for civil society organizations to participate in the government’s poverty reduction programs in line with the implementation of the modified version of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Aquino administration.

According to DSWD-7 assistant regional director Nemia Antipala, their agency needs support to conduct the Family Development Session for beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer.

Under this modified version of cash transfer, this time, household beneficiaries cover  families whose children were victims of child trafficking and violence as well as children with disabilities.

However, under the modified program, beneficiaries are entitled to receive P500 for every head of the family and P300 for every child (maximum of three children for every family), which is the same amount under the original program.

Earlier, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and DSWD formalized a joint undertaking for the benefit of 4Ps grantees.

The partnership, specified in a Joint Order signed by the said agencies, aims to further heighten the level of awareness of all Pantawid beneficiaries of their PhilHealth benefits through the Family Development Seminars conducted by DSWD’s municipal/city links.

Pantawid Pamilya is the government’s human development program that invests in the health and education of the poor through cash grants in exchange of compliance to certain conditions such as pre and post-natal care for pregnant mothers, immunization and preventive health care for children and deworming for children, among others.

Pantawid beneficiaries are covered by PhilHealth as Sponsored members until December 2013. They are issued their Member Data Record and PhilHealth Identification Number which will serve as their pass when availing of health care benefits at any accredited facilities in the country.  - /BRP (FREEMAN)