The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) today issued a clarification regarding circulating reports that the Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps) program is set to end in 2019 and that millions of beneficiaries will be cut off from the support provided by the national government through the program.

DSWD Sec. Judy M. Taguiwalo said that the 4Ps program itself is not set to end in 2019, only the counterpart financing of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will.

Sec. Taguiwalo said that what will end in 2019 – specifically on Dec. 31, 2019 -- is the Social Welfare and Development Reform Project II (SWDP II) loan number 8584-PH which costs US $450M. This is funded by the World Bank.

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to support the National Program Support for Social Protection of DSWD to improve the use of health and education services of poor children. It will do so by supporting the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program. By “poor children”, it refers to children aged 0-18 years old from families participating in the CCT Program and identified as poor in the national targeting system.

This project contributes to the financing of the DSWD's conditional cash transfer program from 2016 to 2019 as endorsed by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) and whose total cost is projected at US$ 5.84 billion. The amount of the IBRD funding is US$ 450 million (estimated at 7.7 percent of the total CCT cost in 2016-2019).

“This loan covenant with the World Bank will end in 2019. The loan covenant with the ADB which costs US400 million will end on June 30, 2020. We have not as yet made any categorical decision to end the 4Ps program by the 2019 even as we have already stated our stand that it should not be institutionalized,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo said that the DSWD continues to conduct its review of the program, its implementation on the ground, its financing, and its over-all management. The review program called “Kamustahan” and the recertification process continue to be implemented.

“We have no plans to discontinue the 4Ps program by 2019, but the program itself continues to be subject to review and improvements. For instance, one of the more important assessment points concerns the general membership of the program and how large the percentage of it actually qualify for the program in terms of their poverty levels and the needs of their families. We are assessing the program based on the experiences of inclusion/exclusion. We also want to impose protective measures that will safeguard the program from the political influence at the community and local government level,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo said that the ongoing 4Ps program review is being done also in line with efforts to review the Philippine social protection framework. There is an evident need to put together a social protection framework which is in line with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) that aims for a more universal and transformative kind of social protection scheme.

The welfare secretary also said that at the immediate, the DSWD is focusing on the payout delays and strategizing measures to improve/shorten current Pantawid compliance verification of households.

“We are also addressing the complications we are experiencing because we only have one government depository bank handling the payout – the LandBank. #

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to release rice subsidy in the form of cash amounting to P600 per month to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) starting this March. Around 4.4 million households are expected to receive the additional grant.  

“Following the directive of President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2016, the rice subsidy hopes to address the hunger problem that these poor households continue to battle. The President wants that the poor households are able to eat everyday” said DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.  

Sec. Taguiwalo also added that only households who are active and compliant with the program conditionalities are entitled to receive the additional P600.

Pantawid Pamilya is a social protection program of the national government. It invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 18 and below. Households receive their cash grant provided that they comply with the program conditionalities.

These conditions include school attendance of at least 85% per month for children enrolled in the elementary or high school. Children aged 5 and below would need to undergo preventive check-up as mandated by the Department of Health (DOH), while children enrolled in the elementary must receive deworming pills twice within the school year. On the other hand, pregnant women must receive pre and post natal care based on DOH’s protocol. 

Lastly, parent/s or guardians are required to attend the monthly Family Development Session (FDS).

“We are hopeful that the additional cash grant will be used for its intended purpose. We will use FDS to ensure that the beneficiaries are informed of the relevant provision on rice subsidy”, concluded Taguiwalo.

The additional cash grant as Rice Assistance/Subsidy is included as part of the P72,115,230 cash grant budget approved for calendar year 2017. 

 

 

With this year’s theme “Isulong: Kalidad na Edukasyon para sa Lahat ng Bata”, the celebration advocated for better and improved quality of education for all children.

 

“Among the basic right of a child is access to free education. It should not be just education, but a quality education that allows them to be competitive, at par with other children schooled in private institutions. The Department, as the primary agency that looks into the welfare of each child will continue to lobby and advocate this until such time, that all children are provided with quality education”, said DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

 

To date, there are 11 million children aged 18 below who are members of the Pantawid Pamilya households. 

The celebration of Araw ng Kabataan was in coordination with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and the National Youth Commission (NYC). More than 1,000 children-beneficiaries and parents of the Pantawid Pamilya joined the celebration this year. 

The AFP and Department of Health (DOH) conducted medical and dental mission for the children too. 

One of the highlights of the program was the awarding for the National Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children 2016.  Reynald Baguio of Dipolog City was adjudged as the grand winner of the search. He bested the other contenders from 17 regions. 

 

 

The search was launched in 2012 to develop young leaders in each region and encourage the compliance of the children beneficiaries to the conditionalities of the program.

Thirteen-year old Reynald, the representative of Zamboanga Peninsula, received P30,000.00 and a plaque. He is a responsible brother and son, a hardworking student, and a young leader in their community.  He values being a Pantwid Pamilya beneficiary and believes that education is key to the success of children like him. 

 

 

Other top five finalists were Anedaine Geamal of Tobias Fornier, Antique; Ihra Mae Madrideo of Ligao City, Bicol; Kian Jay Cosep of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte; and Rose Ann Dela Cruz of San Narciso, Quezon Province. 

Another part of Pantawid Pamilya’s celebration of the National Children’s Month is the National Children’s Congress (NCC), the yearly gathering of Pantawid Pamilya children-beneficiaries from the different regions. It serves as a venue for the children to discuss issues that confront them and recommend action points for the government to undertake.

Eighty-five children beneficiaries participated in this year’s NCC for workshops and other fun activities. During the Araw ng Kabataan, the children did a creative presentation of their outputs. They showcased their skills in singing, dancing, and acting. Some of the kids wrote the presentation’s script and song lyrics.   

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) holds the awarding ceremony of the national search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

 

The National Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya was launched in 2012. The search was launched to highlight the role of the Filipino family as the core in support to building stronger foundation of our nation. This also aims to document the impact of the Family Development Sessions (FDS), as one of the unique program conditionalities. 

 

“We acknowledge the contribution of our families in development, but we also recognize the challenges that they are confronted with. The Department has always been committed in empowering our families”, said DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo. 

 

Taguiwalo also added that in 2017 there are 1.5 families who will now transition and will be moving forward and will be provided with other set intervention. 

 

The Pantawid Pamilya is a social protection program that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children 18 and Currently, there are 4.3 million households who are part of the program. 

 

“We take pride of the families awarded today. These model families have shown that through hard work, determination aided with government subsidy, they will be able to improve their families and their communities as well”, Taguiwalo concluded. 

 

The top five (5) finalists chosen from the 18 Regional winners are Bulso family from Dipaculao, Aurora; Castillo family from Lemery, Batangas; Masamoc family of Aroroy, Masbate; Tacda family from Nueva Valencia, Guimaras; and Garay family of Jagna, Bohol.

 

The annual Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya recognizes outstanding family beneficiaries who maintain strong family ties, demonstrate positive Filipino values, and have a positive impact in the community where they reside. Through this search, Pantawid Pamilya families also showcase the improvement in their lives as the fruits of their own hard work and inspire the whole country despite the challenges they experience brought about by poverty. ###

The findings of a research study done by the team of Dr. Lourdes S. Adriano, a former professor at the University of the Philippines, for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were discussed during the  Public Forum entitled, “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program: Stimulus to Local Economic Growth?” held jointly by the DSWD, Ateneo School of Governance (ASoG), and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) at the Ateneo University on June 23.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will hold a public forum to present the results of the research study entitled, “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program: Stimulus to Local Economic Growth?”, on Thursday, tomorrow, 2:00 – 4:00 pm at  the Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City.

This was the message of David Manansala, a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program whose story of change was featured in the photo exhibit and documentary film dubbed “Malaya Kang Mangarap” (Dreaming is Free), which was launched yesterday at the Ayala Museum.