34,000 4Ps scholars finish college

MANILA, Philippines — Around 34,000 students whose families are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps are expected to graduate this year under the Expanded Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation. 

The aid program is implemented by the Commission on Higher Education,  Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment and state universities and colleges.

Beneficiaries are required to take up courses identified by local industries as in demand. 

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Leyco, DSWD undersecretary and officer-in-charge, clarified that the P200 monthly additional cash subsidy to cushion the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN law  should not be subjected to any deduction.

“This TRAIN-mandated subsidy has no deduction… It is not authorized... It should be immediately reported to us,” he said.

Leyco said the budget for the cash subsidy amounting to P2,400 per household this year has been released.

There are around 4.4 million household beneficiaries of 4Ps across the country.

Marawi beneficiaries

Leyco said 4Ps beneficiaries in Marawi would receive their cash grants even without complying with the requirements until the end of the year.

Leyco said this means the beneficiaries are not required to attend family development sessions. The other conditions are for the children of beneficiaries to attend their classes regularly and avail themselves of medical checkup and vaccines in health centers.

Last November, the DSWD announced the suspension of requirements for Marawi beneficiaries until March this year.

“From what we have seen… it will take a long time before they will recover,” Leyco  said.

There are more than 11,000 4Ps beneficiaries in Marawi.