By PNA
ILOILO CITY — All beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Western Visayas are expected to have their cash cards before the end of 2019.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 6 (Western Visayas) Director Evelyn B. Macapobre said in an interview Friday that the provision of cash cards to 308,700 members is a good development.
“So far in Western Visayas, only 20 to 25 percent of the beneficiaries have cash cards but the Landbank has already informed us that they are already ready with the cash cards (for the members),” she said.
The DSWD will only have forms left to fill up and Macapobre hoped that by the second pay out for 2019 in March, which covers the period of December 2018 and January 2019, the beneficiaries will no longer need to gather in their respective grant areas.
“They can get their grants at their own convenience. They will not have to do the conversion in one place and wait for their time. They have the cash card and once they receive the information that there is already money in their account, then they are good to withdraw,” she said.
Macapobre also said that this upcoming policy will be a big relief on their part because their staff will no longer feel nervous during the payout.
As of December 2018, 4Ps beneficiaries in Western Visayas numbered 308,700, of which 27,159 came from Aklan; 26,976 from Antique; 36,333 from Capiz; 7,684 from Guimaras; 87,715 from Iloilo; and 121,232 from Negros Occidental.
In 2018, the disbursement for the Regular Conditional Cash Transfer amounted to PHP5.84 billion.
The 4Ps also has 1,601 Modified Conditional Cash Transfer beneficiaries, consisting of 11 Family in Need of Special Protection, mostly from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and 1,590 Indigenous Peoples in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas. A total of PHP25.65 million was disbursed to these members in 2018.
Meanwhile, Macapobre further said that the National Advisory Council, an inter-agency affiliate of DSWD in Manila, has already agreed that they will come up with a policy on the replacement of 4Ps members.
“Having many members and in the long run of availing the services of 4Ps, some have elevated their way of living. So we will replace these members with the new ones,” she said.
The council will draft the policy, then send it down to the field offices for comment before it will be finalized.
Macapobre expressed hope that the new policy would be implemented this year.
