DSWD-7 to verify list of 4Ps beneficiaries in Apo Island

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  – The DSWD-Region 7 said it will review the list of beneficiaries in Apo Island of Dauin town in Negros Oriental to the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or Conditional Cash Transfer.

This came after a report stating that some of the pre-identified recipients are no longer qualified for the program, said DSWD-7 information officer Ails Lariba.

Lariba said the agency would go over the list of Apo Island beneficiaries, totaling 42, after the island’s barangay chief Liberty Pascobello Rhodes noted some of those listed no longer fall under the category of being indigent.

Rhodes earlier said some of her constituents got married to foreigners, and one even reportedly left for France. These changed their economic status that automatically disqualifies them to the program, she said.

Lariba explained the list was based on a survey conducted sometime in 2008 to 2009 under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction program to identify who and where the indigents are.

Apo Island and its mother local government unit, Dauin town, are among the new 4Ps beneficiary areas in Negros Oriental under Set 5, which will get their share of the program starting next year, said Lariba. (FREEMAN)