In a concerted effort to improve the welfare of impoverished families, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has intensified its collaboration with the LandBank of the Philippines’ Eastern Visayas branches. This partnership aims to streamline the distribution of cash assistance to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the region.
Joshua Kempis, the information officer for DSWD Eastern Visayas, highlighted the importance of this initiative during a recent phone interview. He noted that a meeting was held on November 12 between DSWD and LandBank officials to ensure the timely and efficient distribution of cash grants to 4Ps recipients. Kempis emphasized that the effective delivery of these grants is crucial for enhancing the well-being of the beneficiaries in Eastern Visayas.
The region is supported by 19 branches of LandBank, which serves as the primary conduit for the government’s social protection initiatives. These branches have been actively involved in distributing cash aid to 267,425 eligible 4Ps households across Eastern Visayas.
The 4Ps, launched in 2008, is a government program designed to uplift the poorest families by providing conditional cash grants. These grants are aimed at improving health, nutrition, and education outcomes for children aged 0-18. Eligible households can receive a monthly health grant of PHP750 and educational grants of PHP300 for elementary and PHP500 for high school students, with a cap of three children per household. The aid is disbursed via cash cards.
In 2019, the program was officially recognized as the national strategy for poverty reduction and human capital investment through Republic Act 11310, allowing poor households to receive support for up to seven years.