SAN JOSE,Antique - The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Larry Petinglay has called for the convening of the 4Ps Provincial Grievance Committee on Friday, May 25, 2010 at the Pinnacle Suites at San Jose, Antique as a step to address the problems encountered in the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

He said that a delisting of some beneficiaries is necessary because they are no longer qualified under the requirements given re the program as given by the DSWD. Some members also do not follow the conditions stipulated by the agency for the successful implementation of the program.

DSWD said the 4Ps program is not a dole -out. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a program of government managed by the DSWD that aims to reduce poverty by providing qualified families conditional cash grants. The program is currently covering 255 municipalities and 15 key cities in 45 provinces, serving 700,000 households.

In Antique, the program is already on its fourth year of implementation and has reached a total of 28,369 household beneficiaries covering a total of sixteen (16) municipalities. Only the towns of San Jose and Belison are not covered by the program.

The DSWD has said that families must fulfill some conditions to be eligible for the program.Some of the qualifiers are the following; 1) residing in one of the poorest municipalities based on the 2003 Small Area Estimates of the Philippine National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB); 2) are living below poverty line; 3) have a pregnant woman or children 14 years old and below; 4) be able to meet the conditions specified in the program, namely; a. pregnant women must avail pre and post natal care and be attended during childbirth by a health professional; 2. parents must attend responsible parenthood and mother's classes; 3. children below 5 yrs old must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines; 4. children from 3-5 yrs old must have an attendance rate of 85% or higher in preschool or day care classes; 5. children from 6-14 years old must enroll and have an attendance rate of 85% or higher in elementary and or high school classes; 6. children 6-14 years old must receive deworming pills twice a year.

The cash grants awarded by the program are as follows; P500 per month (for a total of P6,000 a year) per houssehold for health and nutrition expenses, P300 a month per child for educational expenses or P3000 for one 10-month school year. Only a maximum of 3 children per household are allowed to receive stipends; a total of P1,200 a month for a household with 3 children.

Cash grants are awarded through a Land Bank cash card or other methods such as over-the-counter transactions or off-site payments through Landbank. These grants shall be received by the supposed most responsible family member, usually the mother.

In the light of all these stipulated conditions though, many problems on its implementation still crop-up and needs to be address early.Thus the need to revitalize the grievance committee for a more responsive, appropriate and timely solution to all the problems encountered.*PIA