Don’t be deceived.

This was the stern warning issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after “fake" text messages and social media posts about the schedule of Pantawid Pamilya payouts and list of beneficiaries who will receive the cash grants have been circulating.

In its Facebook post, the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program cautioned more than 4.3 million household-beneficiaries of the 4Ps against falling prey on circulating fake text messages and Facebook posts that spread false information about the government’s poverty reduction program.

"Ang aming tanggapan ay nakakatanggap ng mga ulat tungkol sa mga kumakalat na pekeng texts at Facebook posts tungkol sa iskedyul ng payout, listahan ng mga benepisyaryong makakatanggap ng cash grants, at iba pang maling impormasyon tungkol sa programa (Our office receives reports about circulating fake texts and Facebook posts about the payout schedule, list of beneficiaries who will receive cash grants, and other misinformation about the program),” read the post.

The DSWD strongly reminded the 4Ps beneficiaries to consult, ask questions, and get information about the program from their City/Municipal Links or their Parent Leaders, especially the payout schedule.

"Kung kayo man ay makatanggap ng kahina-hinalang texts at Facebook post, maaaring sumangguni dito sa aming Facebook Page o sa inyong mga City/Municipal Links at Parent Leaders (If you receive suspicious texts and Facebook posts, please refer to our Facebook Page or to your City/Municipal Links and Parent Leaders,” it said.

Since 2008, the Pantawid Pamilya has invested in human capital development and in the health and education of poor households, particularly of children aged 0 to 18 years old.

4Ps uses the conditional cash transfer scheme to provide cash grants 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 (FDS).

Under the program, cash grants are given to poor households for a maximum of seven years, to improve the health, education, and nutrition aspect of their lives.

"The program also aims to empower the beneficiaries and provide them access to available services, opportunities, value education, be mainstreamed as financial community,” the DSWD said.