The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to roll out the First 1,000 Days of Life (F1KD) conditional cash grant to some 80,000 household-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) starting this month.
“Beginning January 2025, we will launch this enhanced service for our 4Ps beneficiaries, with a focus on pregnant women and children zero to 2 years old),” said DSWD Director and 4Ps National Program Manager Gemma Gabuya.
The DSWD has urged 4Ps grantees to update their beneficiary data to ensure they are eligible for the F1KD conditional cash grant.
“We’re actively encouraging our beneficiaries to promptly report and update their status if they are pregnant or have recently given birth. This helps us closely monitor and verify the number of beneficiaries,” Gabuya said.
The conditional cash grant is designed to promote health-seeking behavior among beneficiaries. To qualify, participants must meet a series of health-related requirements, including accessing prenatal services at Department of Health (DOH)-accredited health facilities; receiving ante-natal care and monitoring their pregnancy; attending post-natal visits; participating in counseling sessions, and obtaining micronutrient supplements and immunizations.
These conditions are in line with the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act (Republic Act No. 11148) and the DOH's established health protocols.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/13/additional-4-ps-grants-for-pregnant-women-young-children
Gabuya explained that investing in the health and education of young children increases their potential for long-term success.
“If a child is healthy and well-educated, they are more likely to finish school and escape poverty,” she said.
The 4Ps, the government’s flagship program for poverty reduction, provides financial assistance to the country’s poorest households to improve health, nutrition, and education outcomes, especially for children aged 18 and below.