DSWD continues to push for adjustments in 4Ps grants amid rising inflation
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday, May 9, reiterated its ongoing collaboration with key agencies to identify the most effective index for automatically adjusting cash grants for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.
DSWD Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) and spokesperson Irene Dumlao noted the significance of working with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to determine the right amount to mitigate the impact of inflationary spikes on 4Ps grants.
The inflation rate increased slightly to 3.8 percent in April from 3.7 percent in March.
“I would like to reiterate what DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that adjusting the cash grants of 4Ps beneficiaries is not just timely but that it also preserves the value of the grants,” Dumlao said.
Earlier this year, President Marcos instructed the DSWD, NEDA, and PSA to examine the existing cash assistance provided to the 4Ps beneficiaries and enhance their responsiveness to economic fluctuations.
“Part of the directive of the President is for the DSWD, NEDA, and PSA to come up with a proposal to ensure that the cash grants are responsive to present socio-economic conditions and automatically adjusted even without legislation,” Dumlao said.
The 4Ps is the Philippine government's primary strategy for poverty reduction and investment in human capital, catering to 4.4 million households nationwide.
Beneficiaries receive cash grants as long as they fulfill the program’s requirements, such as ensuring their children attend school, taking them for health check-ups, and participating in monthly family development sessions.
Under Republic Act 11310, or the 4Ps Act, qualified families receive cash grants for up to 10 months per year.
This includes P300 monthly for each child enrolled in daycare or elementary school, P500 monthly for each child in junior high school, and P700 monthly for each child in senior high school.
Each household also receives P750 monthly for health and nutrition assistance, along with a P650 monthly rice subsidy.