KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 has launched the “First 1,000 Days” program to address child malnutrition and stunting in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) family households.
Under the program, a grantee shall receive P350 per month to defray essential expenses for health and nutrition needs during the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
Audrey Jane Soliva, information officer for DSWD 4Ps concerns in the region, explained that F1KD is part of the 4Ps and aims to improve the health, nutrition, and overall well-being of pregnant women and children up to two years old.
“Ang F1KD ay karagdagang benepisyo na binibigay sa mga active Pantawid members. Ang goal natin ay para maiwasan ang pagkabansot o ‘yong problem natin sa stunting dahil nga base sa research tatlo sa bawat sampung batang Pilipino ay nakakaranas ng malnutrisyon,” she said.
(The F1KD is an additional benefit given to active Pantawid members. Our goal is to prevent stunting or the problem of stunting because, based on research, three out of 10 Filipino children experience malnutrition.)
F1KD grantees may be the pregnant mother, household head, wife of the household head, pregnant daughter-in-law, or 0 to 2-year-old daughter/son/grandchild for as long as they are listed in the household of a 4Ps member.
This means that an active 4Ps household with four children between the ages of 0 and two will receive P1,400 as a total monthly grant under F1KD, according to Ryan Ibones, information technology officer of DSWD 12’s Policy and Plans Division.
The DSWD, however, emphasized that the beneficiary can only receive the P350 monthly aid once they have complied with the program’s requirements.
“Ang F1KD grant ay hindi basta-basta binibigay sa mga Pantawid members. May mga condition na dapat nilang tugunan kung gusto nilang makatanggap ng 100 percent ng monthly grant. Ang ini-emphasize natin dito is to increase health-seeking behavior among Pantawid members,” Soliva said.
(The F1KD grant is not just given to Pantawid members without conditions. There are conditions that they must meet if they want to receive 100 percent of the monthly grant. What we are emphasizing here is to increase health-seeking behavior among Pantawid members.)
Soliva said that to qualify, pregnant mothers should have regular check-ups for the last eight months, make full use of maternal health and nutrition services, receive proper delivery care from skilled professionals, attend at least four follow-up visits to the health facility where they gave birth (or as prescribed by DOH protocols), and fully take advantage of maternal health and nutrition programs.
For children aged zero to two years old, the following must be complied with: The child must receive 100 percent of essential intrapartum, newborn care, and newborn screening; 100 percent of routine immunizations according to the latest DOH guidelines; 100 percent of health and nutrition interventions, oral health services, and monthly growth and development monitoring.
The 4Ps Municipal Links of the DSWD will also be monitoring compliance with these requirements, Soliva added.
The DSWD began registering prospective F1KD program recipients throughout the region on Feb. 5 in Lake Sebu town, South Cotabato.
It has also scheduled F1KD program orientation and registration of eligible members in General Santos City on Feb. 12, in Pikit, Cotabato Province, on Feb.19, and in Tacurong City on Feb. 26.
Eligible active 4Ps beneficiaries may also avail themselves of the aid by registering via the DSWD I-Rehistro app (https://iregistro-4ps.dswd.gov.ph/).
FIKD is aligned with Republic Act 11148, otherwise known as the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act. (DED – PIA Region 12)
