DSWD: Expanded 4Ps program grant limited to current beneficiaries with pregnant, nursing mothers
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday, June 13, clarified that only existing active household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who are pregnant, nursing, or have children below two years old are eligible to receive the expanded cash grants.
DSWD-4Ps national program manager, Director Gemma Gabuya made the clarification to address the growing number of inquiries from pregnant women and parents of infants seeking enrollment to the expanded benefits.
She pointed out that the additional grants are exclusively for current 4Ps beneficiaries.
“Liwanagin lang po natin. So, ngayon kailangan maliwanag na ang magiging beneficiaries nito ay iyong talagang existing na beneficiaries ng 4Ps. Hindi siya outside ng 4Ps (Let's just clarify. So, now it must be clear that the beneficiaries of this are the actual existing beneficiaries of the 4Ps. It is not outside of the 4Ps),” Gabuya said during a media forum.
She explained that pregnant and nursing mothers already registered as beneficiaries of the 4Ps are the priority of the program’s “First 1,000 Days” initiative.
DSWD is coordinating with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to determine the target number of beneficiaries and the corresponding budget allocation.
According to Gabuya, active 4Ps households with pregnant and lactating women are proposed to receive an additional cash grant of P400.
Currently, households enrolled in the 4Ps program receive cash grants to support the education, nutrition, and healthcare needs of their children.
Under the initiative, household beneficiaries receive grants dependent upon their children’s school attendance and regular visits to health centers for monthly medical check-ups.
Household beneficiaries with 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.
Each household also receives P750 per month in health grants for 12 months if their children aged two to 14 years old participate in a growth development and monitoring program and deworming treatment.