DSWD to delist only 800,000 from 4Ps rather than initially planned 1.3 million

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) scaled down the number of beneficiaries to be removed from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to around 800,000 from the initially planned 1.3 million.

During the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restobar in Quezon City, DSWD officer-in-charge Undersecretary Edu Punay said that the original 1.3 million beneficiaries were revalidated since the number was “outdated” and with the COVID-19 pandemic impact not taken into account.

“[O]ut of the 1.3 million, may 500,000 pa po na na-determine or na-tag as poor, still eligible sa 4Ps,” Punay said.

“So, all in all, matatanggal natin ay from 1.3 milion… is 800,000. So 800,000 ‘yung expected natin na maalis sa listahan this year,” he said.

The DSWD official said those who would “graduate” from the 4Ps would be accommodated in the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) that would would provide P15,000 in livelihood assistance to start a business.

The 4Ps was institutionalized under the Republic Act No. 11310 signed by then President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.

The program has a target of 4.4 million beneficiaries every year. — DVM, GMA Integrated News