DAVAO CITY (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI is set to begin this year the transition of the ‘graduating’ Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries to their respective local government units (LGUs) for post-service interventions.
Speaking during the Kapehan sa Dabaw, DSWD XI 4Ps Division chief Margie Cabido-Sobretodo reported that they have already identified around 30,000 4Ps beneficiaries in the Davao region who are no longer eligible to receive cash grants under the program since 2024.
“Dili na sila eligible kay naa nay improvement sa ilahang (They are no longer eligible because there is an improvement in their) level of well-being, meaning these households will now graduate from the program,” Cabido-Sobretodo explained.
She said they will begin the transition this year. “Karon gina-prepare na nato ang mga households na mag-graduate na sa program (We are now preparing the households that will graduate from the program). After ma-encode ang ilahang (encoding their data), we will start the transition.”
Under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the 4Ps Law, beneficiaries will exit the program once the last child being monitored in the household reaches the age of 18 or completes high school, or the household reaches the seven-year limit in the program.
Another grounds for the exit when the household is no longer classified as a poor family based on the assessment conducted by the standardized targeting system, or the beneficiary voluntarily withdraws from the program, or the beneficiary commits a violation resulting in appropriate penalties or removal from the program.
Although they will be exiting from the program, Cabido-Sobretodo emphasized that their endorsement to their respective LGUs guarantees ongoing support, ensuring their continued growth and self-sufficiency through a range of post-service interventions provided by the LGU, such as livelihood and employment assistance, among others.
Cabido-Sobretodo hoped that the 4Ps beneficiaries who will graduate from the program would value the lessons they gained while in the program and the benefits they gained from the interventions they received from the LGU and other national government agencies.
“I encourage nga ilaha gyung ipadayon nga ampingan ang mga nakat-unan nila sa (them to continue to cherish what they learned in the) family development session and other services and programs from the local government unit even from the national government agencies,” she shared.
Cabido-Sobretodo said that this mechanism ensures that other non-4Ps beneficiaries, especially those in need, will be given a chance to be part of the program. (clc/ASO/PIA XI)
