DSWD disburses cash grants to poor households in far-flung barangays

MANILA, Philippines -  The Department of Social Welfare and Development has disbursed almost P2 billion in cash grants to poor households in far-flung areas through the “GCASH Remit” system of Globe Telecom since November last year.

To date, over 600,000 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Palawan, Quezon, Sorsogon, Aklan, Iloilo, Masbate, Lanao del Norte, Albay, Aurora, Cebu, Sarangani, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Basilan and Shariff Kabunsuan received the cash subsidy.

In November 2010, G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), the mobile commerce arm of Globe Telecom managing GCASH, forged a partnership with the DSWD and Landbank of the Philippines in the disbursement of cash grants to 4Ps beneficiaries in remote communities.

“Many beneficiaries living in remote areas of the country, as in the case of Polillo Island, end up spending a big amount on transportation and long hours of travel just to get to the payment centers in provincial capitals and major cities,” GXI president Paolo Baltao said.

”By utilizing GCASH Remit, beneficiaries can just go to the nearby barangay centers or neighborhood disbursement areas to get their cash grants,” he said.

The DSWD and Landbank have expanded the number of areas that use GCASH Remit to disburse the government’s conditional cash transfers in Polillo Island, as well as the towns of General Nakar and Perez, in Quezon Province.

In the town of Jomalig in Polillo Island, as well as General Nakar, and Perez – DSWD, Landbank, and GXI were able to disburse over P2 million aid to over 1,200 beneficiaries using GCASH Remit.

The 4Ps provides cash grants to poor households particularly pregnant women and children aged zero to 14.

The government has allocated a total of P21 billion for the 4Ps this year.

The DSWD aims to assist some 2.3 million poor families by December 2011.