DSWD vows efficient cash grant distribution

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday assured the people that the agency is using the most efficient and economical options in distributing cash grants to poor families under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The DSWD, it was learned, has been using the services of the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) as their sole authorized disbursement agent for the nationwide distribution of the cash grants.

The Landbank, on the other hand, has authorized money transfer agents such as M Lhuillier, G-Cash Remit, Philippine Postal Corp., and other conduits such as rural banks and cooperatives to deliver the grants to the beneficiaries.

“We only have the best interest and welfare of our beneficiaries in mind when we decide how to conduct payouts,” Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said.

“We know that the grant is a big help in augmenting the daily needs of the country’s poor families and that is why we make sure that they receive their grants in the easiest and most economical way,” Soliman added.

The DSWD issued the statement in view of media reports that there were beneficiaries of the 4Ps that were not able to receive their cash grants during the scheduled pay-out on June 11, 2013 in Tinambac, Camarines Sur.

Soliman pointed out that out of the 44 barangays reported, only barangay Tambang of Tinambac was not able to receive its grant because of adjustments being made in the mode of payment.

Arnel Garcia, regional director of DSWD Field Office 5, said that the Landbank has already released P6,979,200 for the 4,444 beneficiaries of the 4Ps in Tinambac, Camarines Sur.

He said the adjustments in the mode of payment are being fast-tracked so that the beneficiaries would receive their grants.

The Pantawid Pamilya maximum grant package per household amounts to P1,400 a month, where P300 is paid for every child who complies with the required 85 percent school attendance for the month, which could be given to a maximum of three children per household.

The family will also be entitled to an additional P500 per month for complying with health and nutrition conditions. The amount of the grant is based on the number of children per household and compliance to program conditions.

The Pantawid Pamilya is being implemented in all 17 regions covering 79 provinces, 143 cities, 1,484 municipalities and 40,978 barangays.

There are 3,927,917 households registered as program beneficiaries as of June 26, 2013. –Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star)