'Exiting' 4Ps beneficiaries may continue to receive other forms of assistance — DSWD
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reiterated its commitment to assist Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries who are leaving the program after being assessed as “non-poor” in the agency's recent revalidation.
DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said the department will provide other programs and services to “exiting” 4Ps members to help them maintain their self-sufficiency and improve their overall well-being.
“The good thing is, just like our Food Stamp Program (FSP), although we cannot include everyone from 4Ps, we can implement other DSWD programs to augment or help in the poverty alleviation side of our fellow Filipinos who are the poorest of the poor,” Lopez said.
The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) are two DSWD programs that 4Ps graduates can apply for.
The DSWD will also endorse the exiting 4Ps beneficiaries to their respective local government units (LGUs), along with their case folders, which will guide the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO) in identifying the programs and services that the families may require.
Around 1.1 million beneficiaries were earlier assessed under the “Listahanan 3” of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction.
DSWD revalidated 339,660 household-beneficiaries, who are automatically recommended for graduation or exit from the program, while over 760,000 households were retained on the list of 4Ps beneficiaries.
The 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program of the government that provides conditional cash transfer to qualified households.
It is a human development program that provides social protection, social assistance, social development, and other complementary support services in collaboration with concerned agencies, local governments, and other stakeholders with the goal of improving beneficiaries' health and nutrition, education, and socioeconomic status.