DSWD: 3.5 million 4Ps beneficiaries not yet vaccinated vs COVID
Around 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have yet to receive their vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Wednesday, Nov. 10.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Glenda Relova said of the 4.1 million active 4Ps beneficiaries around 3.5 million have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Nov. 5.
“Mayroon po tayong around 3.5 million na 4Ps beneficiaries na hindi pa bakunado that is as of Nov. 5 (We have around 3.5 million 4Ps beneficiaries who have not been vaccinated that is as of Nov. 5),” she said during the Laging Handa briefing.
In a radio interview on Monday, Relova said so far, around 526,000 4Ps beneficiaries have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
She said the DSWD is “open” to the proposed mandatory vaccination of the Pantawid Pamilya families, but she said many factors should be considered before such policy is implemented, including the amendment to the Republic Act No. 11310, also known as “An Act Institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).”
The DSWD official maintained that the mandatory vaccination of the 4Ps beneficiaries is not part of the program conditionalities as provided under Section 11 of RA No. 11310 or the 4Ps Act.
“Umapela po ang DSWD sa ating partner-agencies na magkaroon ng pag-uusap tungkol dito. Subalit nais naming banggitin na ang DSWD ay naniniwala ang pagbabakuna ay nananatiling boluntaryo at kinakailangan talaga ang informed consent ng ating mga benepisyaryo (DSWD has appealed to our partner-agencies to have a dialogue on this. But we would like to mention that DSWD believes that vaccination remains voluntary and really requires the informed consent of our beneficiaries),” Relova said.