P758M released for 4Ps in Davao Region

THE Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) reported Tuesday that the total disbursement for the cash cards of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in Davao is pegged at P758.3 million during the first half of this year.

DSWD Regional Coordinator for 4Ps Poverty Reduction Management Araceli Layog said Davao del Sur province, including Davao City, got the biggest chunk of the total amount disbursed at P301.1 million.

Compostela Valley (Comval) comes next with P173.1 million, Davao del Norte with P152.2 million, and Davao Oriental with P131.9 million.

"Pero wala pay labot ani ang amount sa mga wala nakadawat tungod sa ilang mga cash cards (But this amount does not include the remaining balance for those who have not yet received due to problems with their cash cards)," she said during the two-day Orientation for Information Officers and Media on the Convergence Framework on Poverty Reduction on September 11 to 12 at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao.

She said these problems include unreadable pin codes and beneficiaries who have no cash cards yet, and beneficiaries not in the payroll list, or beneficiaries with lower entitlement due to non-compliance to the some conditions like going out to barangay health centers and sending children to schools.

The record from DSWD showed Davao del Sur, garnering the biggest share in total disbursement for 4Ps in Davao Region, has 66,569 beneficiaries. Compostela Valley has 37,880 beneficiaries, Davao del Norte has 32,948, while Davao Oriental has 32,577.

"Cash grants shall be awarded through a Land Bank of the Philippines cash card. If payments through cash cards are not feasible, other methods such as over-the-counter transactions or offsite payments through LBP are available," she said.