Over 82K poor households in WV ‘graduate’ from 4Ps

ILOILO City – A total of 82,041 family beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program ( 4Ps) in Western Visa ya shave successfully “exited” or “graduated” from the program as of March 7, 2024, data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 showed.

The4Ps provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18.

According to Be len Ge busion, DSWD-6’ s 4Ps Reg i onal Program Coordinator/ Division Chief, the term “graduate” refers to households that have achieved a self-sufficient level of wellbeing, as determined through assessments using the Social Welfare and Development Indicator.

This indicator is a comprehensive tool used to evaluate the welfare state development and social issues impacting human welfare by measuring various factors including social spending, social differentiation, and the general conditions concerning social protection systems.

On the other hand, the process of “exit” describes households no longer eligible for monitoring due to the absence of criteria such as having children aged zero to 18 years or a pregnant family member.

Gebusion said the 82,041 households have either graduated, indicating an improvement in their living conditions, or exited, signifying they are no longer eligible for monitoring.

This distinction is crucial in understanding the program’s aim to support families until they can independently meet their needs.

Further support for households that have exited the program includes assessing opportunities for continuing education in college for their children, in coordination with local government units, the Department of Education, and the Commission on Higher Education, to help them avail of scholarship programs.

As of March 2024, the breakdown of households that have graduated or exited the program in Western Visayas is as follows:

* Aklan – 8,412 households ( 2,221 graduated, 6,191 exited)

* Antique – 10,248 (4,553 graduated, 5,695 exited)

* Capiz – 12,194 ( 4,172 graduated, 8,033 exited)

* Guimaras – 1,852 (540 graduated, 1,312 exited)

* Iloilo counts – 21,332 (4,889 graduated, 16,443)

* Negros Occidental with 28,003 ( 7,764 graduated, 20,239 exited)

In total, the region has 368,141 beneficiaries under the 4Ps, aiming to enhance the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0-18.

To receive the program’s conditional cash grants, households must comply with specific conditions, including prenatal and postnatal care for pregnant women, attendance of family development sessions, regular health check-ups and vaccinations for children aged 0-5, deworming for children aged 6- 14, and maintaining a minimum school attendance rate for children aged 3-18.

To receive 4Ps subsidies, all the succeeding conditions must be met by the household-beneficiaries:

* Pregnant women must avail pre- and post- natal care, and be attended during

childbirth by a trained professional

* Parents or guardians must attend the family development sessions, which include topics on responsible parenting, health, and nutrition

* Children aged 0- 5 must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines

* Children aged 6- 14 must receive deworming pills twice a year

* Children-beneficiaries aged 3-18 must enroll in school, and maintain an attendance of at least 85% of class days every month./