LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) — No one is left behind. Over 39,000 household beneficiaries in the Bicol region are now reintegrated into the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Bicol after being tagged as non-poor in Listahanan 3.
This reassessment came after the results of the social welfare and development indicators or SWDI of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. These indicators are now being used by the government as tools to appropriate mechanisms for program exit decisions, based on their memorandum circular 19 this year.
In the initial batch of SWDI reassessments in the region, 39,076 households were identified at levels 1 and 2, while 18,586 households were self-sufficient or at level 3.
They will continue to receive the necessary information and assistance to ensure a smooth reintegration of the anti-poverty program.
DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman S. Laurio expressed optimism about the impact of reinstating these 39,076 households into the Pantawid program. “Our goal is to ensure that the assistance reaches those who need it the most. The SWDI reassessment enables us to make data-driven decisions, enhancing the effectiveness of social protection programs and fostering inclusive development in the region,” he said.
This initiative is viewed by the director as a positive stride towards strengthening the social safety net and addressing the needs of vulnerable families in the Bicol Region.
The SWDI, being used by the DSWD, re-assesses households to gauge their current economic and social adequacy. Households falling within level 1 (survival) and level 2 (subsistence) will undergo reinstatement, while those achieving level 3 (self-sufficiency) will proceed through the graduation and exit procedures.
The 18, 586 households that surpassed level 3 are grantees who will soon graduate from the program but are still assured continued support and assistance from their respective local government units and other partner stakeholders.
The Department of Social Welfare has conducted a nationwide reassessment of household beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. This resulted to 39,000 Bicolano households reintegration to the said program for continuous support and porgram. Photos courtesy of DSWD Bicol
For beneficiaries slated for reinstatement, the graduation process is outlined in the transition and exit procedure of the Kilos-Unlad Social Case Management Strategy within the program. Emphasizing this commitment, DSWD and the Department of Interior and Local Government also signed a commitment to provide post-service intervention and support for exited households, in order to prevent regression into lower levels of well-being.
The results of the SWDI reassessment are also being properly communicated and distributed by the satellite offices of DSWD through written messages to further explain their current level of well-being.
The 4Ps program, a flagship initiative in the Philippines, provides conditional cash transfers to eligible families, with a focus on improving the health, nutrition, and education of children in low-income households. The reinstatement of over 39,000 households follows a thorough review of socio-economic conditions, aligning with the government’s commitment to refine and optimize social assistance programs. (PIA5 with reports from DSWD Bicol)
