Leyte develops system using biometrics for 4Ps beneficiaries

TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte province, through its Income Creating Opportunities thru Technology Project – Information Technology (ICOT-P IT), recently developed a system that would use biometrics for beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The new biometrics system, which underwent a “mock test,” together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Eastern Visayas Region, is set to be launched in Matag-ob, Leyte later this August.

The system, according to Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, who personally supervised the test, which imitated various scenarios during actual transaction, was developed by ICOT-P IT students trained by the Provincial Government.

Petilla said should the system prove successful after pilot launching in Matag-ob, the same system will be used in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm) where there are thousands of 4Ps beneficiaries targeted for the program.

One of the main reasons in coming with such measures is to eliminate fraud in the implementation of the project.

Meanwhile, it was learned from DSWD regional director Letecia Diokno that this system is being introduced to improve the modes of releasing the cash aid and the recording of data of the project’s beneficiaries.

With the biometrics system, Diokno said that instead of the traditional Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards that they are distributing to beneficiaries, the latter will be required to claim or withdraw the cash aid personally.

This, as the DSWD has received reports that some of the project beneficiaries were making the ATM cards as collateral in some loan sharks. This new system is seen to avoid this arrangement made by the beneficiaries.

Also, the DSWD earlier said that the government will save a lot of money with the technological advances since the government will no longer have to pay banks for the distribution of the cash aid. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)