The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured on Thursday, Dec. 7 that the agency follows the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act, which calls for rice cash subsidies rather than actual bags of rice.
DSWD Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez made the assurance in a DZBB interview following the recommendation of the National Food Authority to procure and distribute rice instead of the P600 worth of monthly rice allowance for 4Ps beneficiaries.
Lopez clarified that the 4Ps program's current cash grant system, which allows the household-beneficiaries to purchase rice, complies with the IRR of Republic Act 11310, the legislation that established the program.
“Under our 4Ps law, it is explicitly stated that our stipend is in cash, which will be used by our beneficiaries,” he said in Filipino.
Lopez explained that the current system of distributing rice subsidies using the beneficiary's cash card is more practical and efficient, as well as more beneficial to the beneficiaries because they will have the option to purchase rice based on their preferences.
“Instead of focusing on other services for our fellow citizens, not just the 4Ps, this can add to the workload and reduce the efficiency of our social workers,” he said.
“We want to give our beneficiaries their purchasing power, so it’s their choice,” he added.
Aside from rice subsidy, 4Ps members receive monthly health and education cash grants.
Lopez assured the public, particularly the beneficiaries, that the DSWD is ready to distribute sacks of rice instead of cash subsidies to 4Ps beneficiaries once the National Advisory Council (NAC) of 4Ps approves a resolution calling for actual rice distribution instead of cash grants.
The NAC is composed of members from different government agencies, which include the DSWD, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of Trade and Industry.