LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) regional office has released PHP276 million for the first batch of 115,356 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in Bicol for the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Program.
Arnel Garcia, regional director of DSWD in Bicol, in an interview Wednesday, said 4Ps beneficiaries with landbank cash cards are the first to receive the UCT assistance of PHP2,400 (PHP200 per month) for the year 2018.
“The validation process of Listahanan (list) is expected to last for three months and the final list of beneficiaries is targeted to be out by the end of May. The distribution of the UCT assistance for Listahanan is targeted to be done by June 2018,” he said.
UCT is a component of the national government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) program that aims to assist indigent Filipinos who will be affected by the rising prices because of the implementation of the new tax reform program.
Listahanan refers to national household targeting system.
Meanwhile, Garcia said the release of PHP619 million for the second batch of 252,552 regular beneficiaries of 4Ps and 5,663 modified conditional cash transfer without cash cards will receive the UCT grants on April 2018 through partner conduits.
Cherry Escario from Busay in Daraga, Albay, a 4Ps beneficiary who received the cash grant, said “Hindi po namin ito inaasahan, pero maraming maraming salamat po. Gagraduate na po ang anak ko ngayon na Marso at malaki po itong tulong sa amin lalo na sa pag-paaral ng tatlo ko pong anak (We didn’t expect this grant yet we are very thankful. My son will graduate this March and the grant can help for my three other children).
Gregorio Barba Jr. from San Miguel in Catanduanes said the Duterte administration is working hard to provide the needs of Filipino people.
“This administration is pro poor, they know what the poor needs, Thank you Mr. President for the support and love for us,” he said.
For 2019 and 2020, an amount of PHP3,600 (PHP300 per month) will be provided to beneficiaries of UCT.
Meanwhile, DSWD is responsible for the implementation the UCT scheme for three years as stipulated in the TRAIN Act. (Connie Calipay/PNA)
