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'More practical': DSWD to continue to distribute cash subsidies instead of actual rice

Philippines | National

'More practical': DSWD to continue to distribute cash subsidies instead of actual rice

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) maintained on Friday, Feb. 16 that the current P600 monthly rice subsidy for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries is “more practical and efficient” than handing out actual bags of rice.

“After discussion with the Department of Agriculture (DA), we made it clear to them that this is not feasible because of the logistical requirements which may not be convenient with the beneficiaries,” DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications and spokesperson Romel Lopez said during the agency’s weekend report.

DA officials have proposed to President Marcos that the P600 rice subsidy given to 4Ps beneficiaries be converted into actual rice to be supplied by the National Food Authority (NFA), as “this will ease the market’s price pressures in terms of buying high-priced rice.”

Qualified 4Ps members receive a monthly rice subsidy of P600 besides their education and health grants if they comply with certain behavioral conditions, such as sending their children to school, taking them to health centers for regular check-ups, and attending family development sessions.

“There is also no provision in the General Appropriations Act for the purchase of rice, thus, there is no legal cover to begin with,” Lopez pointed out.

“With no legal cover, there is no need for discussion with the National Advisory Council (NAC),” he added.

The NAC is composed of members from different government agencies that include the DSWD, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of Trade and Industry.

Related Tags

RICE SUBSIDY DSWD 4Ps

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