Quezon City-  Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista declared the “force majeure”, in the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) amid the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).

This following the recommendation of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) and following the advisory released by the DSWD on the suspension of DSWD activities requiring mass gatherings, monitoring of compliance of 4Ps program beneficiaries is suspended.

As a precautionary measure and avert the further spread of the disease, conduct of the Family Development Sessions as one of the program conditionalities will be suspended covering the whole month of March. Classes in some areas have been suspended by the Department of Education (DepEd) as early as March 10, 2020.

The 4Ps was institutionalized in April of 2019 making it a law, Republic Act 11310. In the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the law, under Rule VIII Section 15, the DSWD Secretary may suspend the monitoring of compliance under “force majeure” circumstances.

4ps beneficiaries are entitled to receive cash subsidies provided that the conditions on health, nutrition and education are followed. This includes sending and keeping their school-aged children in school; pre and post natal care for mothers; regular and preventive check-ups for children aged 5 and below; deworming for children aged 14 and below; and attendance to the monthly conduct of the Family Development Session (FDS).

The project management said that it does not want to compromise the health of its program beneficiaries. The declaration of “force majeure”, would entitle the program beneficiaries to receive full grants for pay period one covering the months of February and March. For succeeding months, they will assess the situation and will recommend accordingly.

Program beneficiaries are also advised to continue household activities such as backyard gardening, regular cleaning of their surroundings and ensure that they eat clean, healthy and nutritious food. The project management office also said that they requesting program beneficiaries to help disseminate information from reliable sources such as announcements from the Department of Health.  

Program beneficiaries may also coordinate with their City or Municipal Links or visit the nearest DSWD regional offices for more information.

4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy of the national government. It invests in the health, nutrition and education of poor households for an improved well-being.  It is implemented nationwide with more than 4 million household beneficiaries. ###