DSWD-ARMM distributes rice subsidy to 4Ps beneficiaries

RICE SUBSIDY --- PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries of North and South Upi received their first rice subsidy for this year along with the education and health grants during a mass payout last March 29 at the municipal gymnasium in North Upi, Maguindanao. (Photo Courtesy of John Olympus E. Colcol, MCCT Focal, DSWD-ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- The PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have started receiving their rice subsidy amounting to P600 per month aside from the regular cash grant following the directive of President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address in June 2016.

Alminda G. Ladja, 4Ps regional coordinator, said around 415,389 households for the whole region, including Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program (MCCT) beneficiaries, are expected to receive the subsidy which will be paid in six bi-monthly installments along with the education and health grant.

“The subsidy is a commitment of President Duterte and is now being implemented by the DSWD-ARMM,” said Ladja.

Pombaen Karon Kader, assistant secretary of DSWD-ARMM, said the rice subsidy will truly give aid among the poorest of the poor beneficiaries in the region’s five component provinces of Maguindanao, Lanaodel Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi.

“The schedule of the region-wide simultaneous payout for this period began in the last week of March and will run throughout the whole month of April,” said Kader.

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalosaid the rice subsidy hopes to address the hunger problem that the poor households continue to battle.

However, she added, only households who are active and compliant with the program conditionalities are entitled to receive the additional P600.

“The President wants that the poor households are able to eat everyday” said Taguiwalo.

The 4Ps is a social protection program of the national government. It invests on the health and education of poor households, primarily of children aged 18 and below. Households shall receive their cash grant provided that they comply with the program conditionalities.

These conditions include school attendance of at least 85percent per month for children enrolled in the elementary or high school. Children aged five and below would need to undergo preventive check-up as mandated by the Department of Health while children enrolled in the elementary must receive deworming pills twice within the school year. On the other hand,pregnant women must receive pre and post-natal care based on DoH’s protocol. Lastly, parent/s or guardians are required to attend the monthly Family Development Session (FDS).

The additional cash grant as rice assistance/subsidy is included as part of the P72,115,230 cash grant budget approved for calendar year 2017. The additional P600 rice subsidy was activated to the Period 6 2016 payment.(GILMHAR A. LAO– MINDANAO EXPOSE’)