For beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Central Visayas  who engage in illegal activities, heed the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) warning or lose your cash grants. 

In a statement posted on the agency’s Facebook page, DSWD-VII announced that the DSWD “will suspend” 4Ps recipients  who engage in any prohibited acts based on Memorandum Circular 38 or the Guidelines on the Commission of Prohibited Acts by Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Beneficiaries during State of Calamity of National Emergency.

It said the DSWD Central Office issued the memorandum circular "to provide stiffer policies against erring 4Ps beneficiaries” following reports that some beneficiaries were involved in illegal activities after receiving their emergency cash subsidy under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

“We would like to imbibe to the 4Ps beneficiaries the sense of responsibility in using the subsidy to augment their needs. We know that the amount is not enough to cover all their needs, but it would be a great help, especially in purchasing their food and other essentials,” DSWD-7 Director Rebecca Geamala said in a statement. 

She said the in coordination with the local government units (LGUs), the Philippine National Police (PNP), barangay officials, and partner non-government organizations (NGOs), the DSWD consistently guided the beneficiaries and helped them understand that the grants are government funds. 

“They are always reminded that the cash assistance must be put to good use, and should not be spent outside of its intended purpose, more so, illegal activities,” Geamala said. 

The DSWD-7 reminded that household cash grants 'are automatically suspended if a household member is found out to have engaged in prohibited acts’.

"The erring member and the rest of the household would undergo case management,” it said. 

Included in the list of prohibited acts were gambling, use of cash grants for alcoholic beverages, use of any prohibited or illegal drugs, intentional claiming of same grants twice, violation of any existing national and local laws, violation of any rules implemented by the national and local Government to address the contingency, and other vices and prohibited conducts of similar nature.

Reinstatement of the household shall be based on the recommendation of the assigned case worker.

“The DSWD clarified this measure is not to penalize but to encourage program beneficiaries to be responsible and prudent in spending the grants given to them.”

The guidelines are only applicable during the declaration of the state of calamity, national emergency, or other extraordinary condition, the DSWD-7 said.