As public schools across the country resume classes, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reminded beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to ensure their children are enrolled and attending school regularly, a key requirement for receiving educational cash grants.

“Ngayon simula ng pasukan, nais naming ipaalala sa ating mga 4Ps beneficiaries na patuloy sanang gabayan ang kanilang mga anak at siguraduhin na sila ay pumapasok sa paaralan. Ito ay mahalaga, hindi lamang para sa compliance ng inyong educational grants kundi para na rin masigurado na magkakaroon ng magandang kinabukasan ang inyong mga anak,” DSWD Director and 4Ps National Program Manager Gemma Gabuya said on Wednesday, June 18.

(Now that the school year is starting, we want to remind our 4Ps beneficiaries to continue guiding their children and ensure that they are going to school. This is important not just for compliance with the educational grants but also to ensure a better future for their children).

Based on the program guidelines, children aged three to 18 must be enrolled and maintain at least 85 percent attendance to remain eligible for education grants under 4Ps.

Under the program, beneficiaries receive educational cash grants of P300 per month for elementary students, P500 for junior high school students, and P700 for senior high school students, who meet the attendance requirement.

Meanwhile, for those who are unable to attend school regularly due to various circumstances, Gabuya said the DSWD, through the 4Ps program, has its “Bata Balik Eskwela” campaign, which encourages out-of-school children from low-income families to return to school either through formal education or the Alternative Learning System.

“Sa tulong ng Bata Balik Eskwela, bibigyang pansin natin at titiyakin na mananatili sa paaralan ang mga 4Ps monitored children. Nakahanda rin tayong gabayan at alalayan ang mga batang hindi nakaka-comply sa kondisyong pang edukasyon ng programa,” Gabuya said.

(Through Bata Balik Eskwela, we will focus on ensuring 4Ps-monitored children stay in school. We are also ready to guide and assist those who are not yet meeting the education conditions of the program).

Institutionalized by Republic Act 11310 in 2019, the 4Ps program provides conditional cash transfers to poor households for up to seven years.

To continue receiving assistance, beneficiaries must comply with program requirements, including regular school attendance, health checkups, and participation in family development sessions.

Aside from educational grant, each household-beneficiary currently receives a monthly health and nutrition grant of P750, along with a monthly rice subsidy of P600. 

Female 4Ps beneficiaries who are pregnant, as well as households with children aged two and below, are also entitled to an additional P350 monthly health grant.