Photo Credit: 4Ps BARMM
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), will begin registering more than 493,000 new beneficiaries starting in March using data from the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) as the official basis for identifying eligible families.
Following the passing of Republic Act No. 11315 or the CBMS Law, the 4Ps has formally adopted the CBMS as its Standardized Targeting System (STS), marking a significant shift in how new poor and near-poor families are identified for inclusion in the Program.
“Through the use of updated local data, we are making sure that government assistance reaches through the 4Ps program the families who truly need support,” 4Ps National Program Manager and Director Gemma B. Gabuya said.
From the families categorized as “poor” or “near-poor” in the CBMS database, the 4Ps will register eligible beneficiaries provided they meet the program’s socio-demographic criteria, including the presence of pregnant women and/or children aged 0–18 within a family and those facing multiple layers of vulnerability.
Preference will be given to families with a greater number of children, younger dependents who require sustained health and nutrition support, and families belonging to vulnerable sectors such as solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), Indigenous Peoples (IPs), senior citizens acting as primary caregivers, and those residing in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).
Registration will be conducted nationwide, prioritizing localities with high poverty incidence rates, through organized community assemblies in coordination with local government units.
“The registration process is designed to be transparent, organized, and supportive. We are working closely with local governments to ensure that eligible families are properly assessed and assisted throughout the process,” Director Gabuya emphasized.
During registration, family information will be validated, and identity will be authenticated through the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) or National ID. A social worker will also conduct an assessment to confirm the eligibility of the family.
To make the process easier, a One-Stop Shop will be set up at registration sites, in coordination with partner agencies such as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Local Civil Registrar, health offices, and other relevant offices, to help families secure necessary documents, such as birth certificates or identification.
“Families who complete the process will attend an orientation on the responsibilities and benefits under the program before being officially enrolled. They will also sign an oath of commitment, signifying their understanding of the program’s responsibilities, including truthful disclosure, compliance with health and education conditionalities, and timely updating of records,” the 4Ps National Program Manager pointed out.
The registration forms part of the program’s continuing effort to reach its 3.5 million target number of beneficiaries, ensuring that assistance remains targeted, transparent, and responsive to changing poverty conditions at the local level.
As more long-time beneficiaries prepare to graduate from the program this year, the intake of new qualified families will allow 4Ps to continue supporting those who need assistance the most.
4Ps is a flagship program in human capital investment of the Philippine government led by the DSWD to help in the country’s poverty reduction by providing conditional cash transfers for the betterment of health and education of children belonging to poor families. – NMHT