Pregnant and lactating women will now receive government cash aid under the expansion of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to ensure the health of children in their first 1,000 days, Malacañang said on Tuesday, June 11.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., along with Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gachalian, and other government officials, discuss the country's proposed reforms to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) cash grants during a sectoral meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Baldemor/PPA Pool)
In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said that President Marcos agreed to widen the coverage of the government’s 4Ps program to now include pregnant and lactating women.
“Okay. Yes. Let’s do that. On the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, bring the mother, the family into the system. That’s really good,” the Chief Executive said during a sectoral meeting that included the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), and other concerned agencies in Malacañan Palace.
This was a result of another sectoral meeting last February when proposals were made to reform the 4Ps program to provide cash grant to the First 1,000 Days (F1KD) of children.
The adjustments aim to increase the purchasing power of the 4Ps beneficiaries and provide an incentive for them when they comply with the program’s conditions, which targets the prevention of malnutrition and stunting among Filipino children.
The provision of cash aid to pregnant and lactating women will ensure that they could seek health services to address their health needs, as well as that of their children’s in their first 1,000 days.
Marcos then instructed the DSWD and the NEDA to report to him the necessary adjustments needed to expand the program.
Under the 4Ps’ current program, a beneficiary-family receives cash aid on the condition that their children attend school.
Families with daycare and elementary students receive P300 per child per month for 10 months; P500 per child per month for 10 months for junior high school; and P700 per child per month for 10 months for senior high school.
Households also get P750 per month for 12 months provided that their children aged two to 14 years old undergo a growth development and monitoring program and deworming. Families are also required to attend family development sessions.
The President earlier ordered a study on the possibility of adjusting the 4Ps cash grants to address health gaps and help beneficiaries with inflation.