MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has addressed concerns raised in the 2023 Commission on Audit (COA) report regarding ‘unlisted’ beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from 2020 to 2022. The DSWD confirmed that all beneficiaries mentioned in the report have been accounted for through detailed name-matching processes conducted by the department’s staff involved with the 4Ps and Listahanan programs.
According to the COA’s annual audit report, out of the 14,004 paid beneficiaries during the specified period, significant numbers were not listed in the Listahanan 2 database each year: 9,553 in 2020, 9,057 in 2021, and 8,498 in 2022. In response, the DSWD, through its 4Ps National Program Management Office and National Household Targeting Office, conducted thorough data validation and manual name-matching on the sample of 14,004 households.
DSWD spokesperson Dumlao reported that only 17 households from the validated sample were not initially found in Listahanan 1 and 2 but were subsequently included in Listahanan 3. The department is optimistic about the upcoming implementation of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), which they believe will help mitigate similar issues in the future.
The DSWD emphasized its dedication to transparency and the effective execution of the 4Ps program. They view the COA’s findings as an opportunity to improve their targeting processes, ensuring that the program’s benefits reach the most impoverished and vulnerable families nationwide. The department also commits to revisiting the COA’s recommendations and providing ongoing updates on their progress.
Furthermore, the DSWD is calling for collaboration with local government units and partner agencies to ensure the program effectively meets the needs of marginalized communities and fosters a more inclusive society.