DSWD defends 4Ps from political tag

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development defended its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from accusations that it is being used by local candidates for their election campaigns.

In a statement issued by DSWD, the agency clarified that Local Government Units are their partners in the implementation of the program.

The agency denied that the program is being used as a political tool by local politicians because they have full control of the disbursements of the funds and the full power to remove anyone as beneficiaries.

According to the DSWD, it is the agency’s responsibility to select and target the areas; enumeration and identification of potential household beneficiaries through the Proxy-Means Test; enrollment and monitoring of compliance of the program’s conditionality; and payment and release of cash grants directly to the 4Ps beneficiaries in coordination with the Land Bank of the Philippines.

They explained that the LGUs are partners in the implementation of the program and are specifically responsible in ensuring the constant availability of supply-side requirements on health and education and ensuring the effective implementation of 4Ps in their respective localities using all the systems, procedures, and components of the program based on the 4Ps policies and guidelines set by the DWSD national office.

It further explained that no amount of money is given to the provincial and municipal governments for the implementation of the program and the de-listing, replacement, and addition of areas and beneficiaries are solely done by the DSWD.

DSWD said that the directions and guidelines are provided to their field offices for dissemination to LGU’s to ensure a uniform implementation of the activities in all project areas. –Dorothy Mae E. Acabo and Sheila Marie E. Catacutan/FPL (The Freeman)