DSWD-7: 4Ps beneficiaries start receiving rice subsidy this year

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1071490359660/dswd-7-4ps-beneficiaries-start-receiving-rice-subsidy-this-year
• Sunday, April 2, 2017

By Juju Empuerto (rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/DSWD-7)

CEBU CITY (PIA) --- The PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in Central Visayas have started receiving the monthly P600 rice assistance/subsidy for January 2017, according to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 Information Officer for Pantawid Pamilya, Phoebe Jen Indino.

According to Indino, the rice subsidy is a commitment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte made during his first State of the Nation Address in 2016, ensuring all Filipinos to be free from hunger and poverty in the amount of P600, which shall be given to all beneficiaries of PantawidPamilya.

Since January 2017, 213,502 active households in Central Visayas received the rice subsidy.

The rice subsidy will be paid bi-monthly along with the education and health grants.

Of the total active beneficiaries in CentalVisayas, 148,805 are from Cebu province, 60,858 from Bohol Province and 3,839 from Siquijor.

“These beneficiaries have started receiving the rice subsidy last March 9, 2017 while there is an on-going pay-out all throughout Central Visayas region,” said DSWD-7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre.

PantawidPamilya is a social protection program of the national government and invests in 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 conditions.

These conditions include school attendance of at least 85% 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 (DoH), 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).

“We are hopeful that the additional cash grant will be used for its intended purpose. We will use FDS to ensure that the beneficiaries are informed of the relevant provision on rice subsidy,” Macapobre reiterated.

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, said Macapobre.