Kerwin Macopia, 4Ps information officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7, said Thursday, March 9, 2023, the figure is only 70 percent of their target beneficiaries of 993.
In 2022, the city logged 1,490 beneficiaries.
Macopia said they started registration last Feb. 27 across Mandaue’s 27 barangays.
He said the last batch of registration for Barangays Opao, Cubacub, Casili, Umapad and Canduman was held last Thursday.
However, he said registration nationwide is still ongoing.
The 4Ps is the government’s national poverty reduction strategy as stated under the Republic Act 11310, or “An Act institutionalizing Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps),” signed on April 17, 2019.
The DSWD launched the 4Ps in 2007. In Cebu, the 4Ps started in 2009.
Applicants must present marriage certificates, birth certificates for all family members, barangay certificates, school enrolment certificates and other valid IDs.
Qualified beneficiaries are entitled to receive a health grant of P750 per month, an education grant for at most three monitored children (daycare and kindergarten P300, junior high P500 and senior high school P700) covering 10 months in a year and a rice subsidy of P600 per month.
Macopia explained that some applications were denied due to lack of requirements, particularly an enrolment certification because some children are not in school.
“The qualified 4Ps families shall comply with the program’s conditions to avail themselves of the cash grants. These include school attendance of at least 85 percent per month for children enrolled in preschool, elementary or high school,” said Macopia.
Macopia said the DSWD 7 will release the final and approved list of 4Ps beneficiaries in April.
He assured those who failed to meet all the requirements that they could still avail themselves of other programs, such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations.
“We could also refer them to their respective LGU (local government unit), the Mandaue City Government, to avail (themselves) of locally funded programs, but they need to be reassessed by their respective social workers,” Macopia said.
Also on Thursday, DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Jerico Francis Javier visited the Mantuyong Gym in Barangay Mantuyong for the turnover of the Family Development Session booklet on Tuberculosis Awareness.