The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has warned social media users against people pretending to be beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to gain online attention.

According to the agency, the practice spreads misinformation and reinforces negative stereotypes against poor families.

DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said some online content creators have been posing as 4Ps beneficiaries on social media platforms to attract views, engagement, and public reaction.

“Mahigpit pong pinapaalalahanan ng DSWD ang mga netizens na huwag magpanggap bilang benepisyaryo ng 4Ps para sa pansariling kasikatan sa social media (The DSWD strongly reminds netizens not to pretend to be 4Ps beneficiaries for personal fame on social media),” she said.

“Ito po ay nagpapakita ng hindi magandang halimbawa sa paggamit ng mga online platforms para makapanglinlang sa kapwa (This sets a bad example in the use of online platforms to deceive other people),” she added.

The DSWD said the posts have contributed to public ridicule and harmful assumptions about beneficiaries of the government’s flagship anti-poverty program.

Dumlao pointed out that falsely portraying oneself as a 4Ps beneficiary is disrespectful to millions of legitimate beneficiaries who depend on government assistance for their children’s education, health, and nutrition.

“Ang paggamit sa pagkakakilanlan ng mga benepisyaryo bilang biro o content strategy ay isang pangungutya sa kanilang dignidad (Using the identity of beneficiaries as a joke or content strategy mocks their dignity),” she said.

Dumlao also warned that misleading content about the program contributes to the spread of “fake news” and undermines public trust in government social protection initiatives.

DSWD urged content creators and online personalities to be more responsible in discussing government programs on social media.

“Nais po naming hikayatin ang publiko, lalong-lalo na ang mga content creators at iba pang online personalities, na maging responsableng social media users (We want to encourage the public, especially content creators and other online personalities, to become responsible social media users),” Dumlao said.

“Maging maingat at sensitibo po sana tayo lalo na sa pagtalakay ng mga programa ng ating pamahalaan na direktang nakaaapekto sa buhay ng ating mga kababayan (We hope people will be careful and sensitive, especially when discussing government programs that directly affect the lives of fellow Filipinos),” she added.