Committed to assist the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who were affected by the onslaught of super typhoon “Rolly”, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Sunday (Nov. 8) that it is “studying the possibility” of waiving the conditionality to ensure that full cash grants will be given to the program recipients in the ravaged regions. 

The DSWD noted that its 4Ps National Project Management Office (NPMO) is currently facilitating the immediate release of the cash grants covering the pay period for August to September to 4Ps recipients in the affected regions.

“Steps are now being undertaken so that cash grants covering the pay period for August to September will be released the soonest possible time to help beneficiaries, especially those from affected regions, to cope with the socio-economic setbacks brought by the weather disturbance and the current COVID-19 pandemic,” it said in a statement. 

Among the affected regions are the National Capital Region (NCR), Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon,  CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The Department said the possibility of declaring “force majeure” or suspending the compliance monitoring is being studied. 

Rule VIII Section 15 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 11310 or the 4Ps Act authorizes the Secretary of DSWD to suspend the monitoring of compliance of beneficiaries to program conditionality under “force majeure” circumstances such as calamities, war, and armed conflicts.

"This means that 4Ps beneficiaries will receive their full grants for the said period and are excused from complying to the program’s conditionality,” the DSWD said. 

Last March, the DSWD announced that it declared “force majeure” for the 4Ps program and suspended the monitoring of compliance from February until May due to COVID-19 pandemic. 

Under the 4Ps program,  the beneficiaries receive a monthly rice subsidy amounting P600, apart from P500 health assistance they receive each month. 

Beneficiaries who have a child enrolled in elementary receive P300 cash assistance,  while P500 cash assistance is extended to those who have a child enrolled in high school. 

Cash grants  are granted to the beneficiaries who comply with the following program conditions: Children 3 to 18 years old must be enrolled in kindergarten, elementary, and high school, and attend classes at least 85 percent of the time each month; Children 0-5 years old must receive regular preventive health check-ups, growth monitoring, and vaccines; Pregnant women get pre and post-natal care (must be attended by skilled/professional health workers); Children in elementary must receive de-worming pills twice a year; and Attendance of the grantee/parent/guardian to the monthly Family Development Session.

The DSWD explained that before "force majeure” is declared, the DSWD Regional Director of the affected region must send an official memorandum to DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista requesting the suspension of compliance of conditions of 4Ps beneficiaries.

"It must be supported by a resolution from the Local Government Unit declaring the locality under a state of calamity,” it said.

The DSWD also asked 4Ps beneficiaries, who have lost their cash cards or whose cards have been damaged to coordinate with their City/ Municipal Links or to the nearest regional office "so that they can be immediately assisted.”

"For those beneficiaries with lost or damaged cash cards, they may withdraw their grants via over the counter transaction,” it said.