DSWD hails approval of expanded 4Ps cash grant

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) hailed on Wednesday President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s approval of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) expanded cash grant to include pregnant and nursing mothers.

During a sectoral meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, Marcos approved the DSWD's request for a first 1000-day award for 4Ps recipients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have two-year-old children.

«The President gave us instructions on how we can improve the lot of our pregnant and lactating mothers, especially the poorest,» Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon «Rex» Gatchalian said.

He said that the increased grant for the 4Ps program will act as an incentive for target recipients to seek health care, addressing malnutrition and stunting in the country.

«This will serve as an incentive for them to have what we call health-seeking behavior, which means they will be motivated to go to the health center, register, avail of pre- and post-natal care, and post-partum treatment, including immunization for their 0 to 2-year-old children,» Gatchalian said.

Under the DSWD's 4Ps program, a household beneficiary receives financial assistance on the condition that their children attend school and visit health clinics on a monthly basis.

Households with elementary students get P300 per child per month for 10 months, P500 per child per month for 10 months in junior high, and P700 per child per month for 10 months in senior high.

Households also receive P750 per month for 12 months if their children ages two to fourteen participate in a growth development and monitoring program, as well as deworming. Families are also obliged to attend monthly family development classes.