“Pantawid” recipients in 1st district get cash

CEBU, Philippines - More than 7,000 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries for Set 6 in Cebu’s first district have received cash grants. 

These beneficiaries, numbering 7, 483, belong to the Set 6 of the program for the first district of Cebu which bring to a total of more than 10,000 registered active beneficiaries, according to  Aileen Lariba, DSWD 7 4Ps information officer.

Lariba said P15,145,700 was distributed. 

Of the first district, Naga City distributed P4,689,500 to 2,270 beneficiaries, followed by Sibonga with 2,264, Talisay City with 1,940, and Minglanilla with only 1,009 beneficiaries.

Pantawid Pamilya also provides cash grants provided beneficiaries comply with a set of conditions required by the program to help fulfill the country’s commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). 

These goals include the Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger, Achievement of Universal Primary Education, Promotion of Gender Equality, Reduction of Child Mortality and Improvement of Maternal Health. 

Eligible households are those classified as poor based on the National Housing Targeting System-Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) and those that have children 0-4 years old and/or have a pregnant woman at the time of assessment, who agrees to the following conditions: Pregnant women must avail of pre- and post-natal care and be attended to during childbirth by a trained health professional and that parents must attend Family Development Sessions (FDS); Children, 0-5 years old, must receive preventive health check-ups and vaccines, and those, 3-5 years old, must attend day care or pre-school classes at least 85 percent of the number of school days in a month, for 10 months, during the school year. 

Likewise, children, 6-14 years old, must enroll in elementary or high school and must attend at least 85 percent of the number of school days every month, for 10 months, during the school year, and must receive de-worming pills twice a year.  (FREEMAN)