DSWD holds dialog with 4P beneficiaries

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and its partners namely Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), Department of Education (DepEd) represented by Dr. Delia Kiamco, Supervisor I, Department of Health represented by Dr. Fe Cabugao, City Health Officer and Cebu City Government represented by its City Planning Officer, Nice Iroy conducted a consultation dialogue with 4Ps beneficiaries of Barangay Duljo Fatima consisting of about 200 people last April 08 and April 15.

4Ps is a poverty alleviation program of the national government that provides a monthly conditional cash grant to the identified poor household amounting to P500 for health and P300 per child for a maximum of 3 children only 14 years old and below. For these household to receive the said cash grant for the next five years, they have to comply with the conditions like pregnant mothers should get pre-natal and post-natal care and must be attended by a qualified health professional during childbirth, 0-5 years old must be immunized and given preventive health check-ups. Children ages 3-14 years old must attend classes at least 85 percent of the time whether it’s day-care, pre-school, elementary or high-school, mothers are required to attend community assemblies, motherhood classes, family planning, etc. and children must be given de-worming pills at least twice a year.

The dialogue provided a venue for these beneficiaries to clarify issues and concerns on the implementation of the program most especially on the supply side. It has also paved the way for these people to learn about other services being offered by DSWD’s partner agencies such as free medical assistance and Operation Tuli of City Health, Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Accreditation & Equivalency (A&E) Program of DepEd and the various public assistance services offered by the city government through DSWS.

DSWD’s 4Ps has identified 10 barangays in Cebu City namely, Duljo Fatima, Inayawan, Sawang Calero, Kalunasan, T. Padilla, Tejero, Mambaling, Tagbao, Sudlon I & II and initial success has been established in these areas such as increase in enrollment and school attendance as well as accessibility of barangays health services.

Succeeding dialogues will continue every Friday for the whole month of April covering two to three barangays per dialogue, ensuring communication success.