DSWD-7 suspends 4Ps payout to beneficiaries due to election ban

Some of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) withdraw their 4Ps subsidy from a Landbank ATM.| DSWD.gov.ph

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Aside from family food packs distribution, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has also suspended the payout of cash grants to its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries due to election ban.

“This is it; we have tried our best to seek for exemption sa central office. Kasi basta pera, the central office should be the one to negotiate with Comelec. Sa mga programs for the region, as of now, wala pa tayong approval from Comelec,” DSWD-7 regional director Rebecca Geamala said.

(This is it; we have tried our best to seek for exemption from the central office because when it comes to money, it is the job of the central office to negotiate with Comelec. For now, in the region’s programs, we still don’t have any approval to continue them.)

Since it involves money, Geamala said that the office should first seek exemptions from Comelec, for DSWD to continue its programs.

“Saka ako naman, dito sa region seven, sabi ko nga magpunta nalang ako sa Comelec and check kung ano talaga ang magawa naming,” she said, adding that if the program already involves money, then their central office should be the one to ask for exemption from Comelec.

(For my part, here in Region 7, I’d rather go personally to Comelec to check on what we are allowed to do.)

Geamala, however, is hoping that they would be able to get the exemption within this week.

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She also assures pantawid members that they would still receive their cash grants, especially on those months that DSWD would not able to implement their payouts due to the election ban.

“Of course, makukuha nila yan. Hindi pwede na hindi maibigay yan kasi it’s due for them,” she added.

(Of course, they would receive them. It is not option not to distribute them because it is due for them.)

Read more: 4Ps beneficiaries in Cebu City get their EMV-chip ATM cards

Currently, Central Visayas has around 279,980 households who are beneficiaries of the 4Ps.

The 4Ps is a program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 18 and below.

It provides cash grants to compliant household beneficiaries with health grant worth P500 and educational grants worth P300 and P500 for each children studying in elementary and high school. 

Geamala also added that she would strictly prohibit politicians from joining any activity of DSWD as the election campaign for local candidates had already started on Friday.

“Directive ni President (Rodrigo Duterte) na in every DSWD activity or pamigay ng whatever, goods and services, before election dapat walang politicians,” Geamala stressed.

(It is the directive of President (Rodrigo Duterte) to prohibit any politician before the election from joining any DSWD activity or distribution of whatever goods and services.)/dbs