Non-compliant 4Ps recipients may be delisted

CEBU, Philippines — Family-beneficiaries who are remiss in their duties under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will be removed from the program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said.

In a statement, DSWD-7 said that persistently non-compliant beneficiaries will be stricken off the list of recipients after due notice.

However, cases involving non-compliant beneficiary will still have to be managed. A case manager will be assigned to a specific case and guide the family as to how it can comply with the guidelines set by the agency.

“Through the case management process, the beneficiary undergoes a transformative process, as he/she is guided with new information and ways, evaluate past ideas, beliefs, and understanding through critical reflection leads to a change of perception,” the agency said.

The beneficiaries who complied with the program conditions in a particular period will receive their full grants which include sending and keeping the school-aged children in school, pre and post-natal care of mothers, regular and preventive check-ups of children aged five and below, deworming of children aged six to 14, and attendance to the monthly Family Development Sessions.

Based on the law, households may receive P750 for compliance on health and FDS, children monitored by the program in elementary will receive P300 while those in junior high receive P500 and P700 for children in senior high school.

The education grants benefit a maximum of three children in a household and cover only 10 months per school year.

Section 12 of Republic Act 11310 states that “should the qualified household-beneficiary so notified persists in not complying with the conditions within a period of one (1) year since the day of receipt of the written notification, the household-beneficiary shall be removed from the program.”

RA 11310 became law in April 2019. It is the government’s major poverty alleviation program that invests in the health, nutrition, and education of poor eligible households. It is envisioned that these measures, coupled with the psychosocial and educational component provided through FDS, lead the beneficiaries to have improved and sustained well-being.

Meanwhile, the DSWD-7, in recognizing the importance of FDS, has expanded its media coverage reach through partnership with National Nutrition Council’s (NNC-7) Nutriskwela community radio stations.

The FDS On-the-Air could be heard over three Nutriskwela community radio stations in Central Visayas such as Radyo Kaigsoonan in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental; Radyo Kahimsug in Barili, Cebu; and Radyo Kalampusan in San Francisco, Cebu.

he Nutriskwela community radio station is an initiative of NNC-7 to empower the community through the dissemination of correct, relevant, and up-to-date nutrition and health as well as educational and developmental information from various sectors in the community, government agencies, and non-government organizations.

The FDS aims to enhance the knowledge of 4Ps partner-beneficiaries for them to acquire new skills performing their parental roles and responsibilities, particularly on the health and nutrition, education, protection, and psychosocial needs of children; promote positive family values, strengthen marital relationships, and active citizenship for community empowerment among others. — JMD (FREEMAN)