DSWD delivers P37.5M cash grants to 4Ps beneficiaries

Tuguegarao City (31 July) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 2 has already delivered a total amount of 37.5 million pesos to the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a poverty reduction program of President Arroyo.

DSWD-2 Regional Director Arnel Garcia, said 5,610 families from the Municipalities of Palanan, Divilacan and San Mariano of Isabela province, have received their cash grants based on the conditions they are required to comply with.

Garcia said they targeted total beneficiaries of 5,890 but some 280 were not awarded because they were not around during the release of the cash grants. However, he mentioned that the benefits will be delivered when the weather condition permits.

“Though we really have hardship in delivering the assistance, we still delivered it by all means. However, we are looking for a better weather conditions because the areas are hard to reach,” Garcia explained.

Garcia also said, aside from the 3 municipalities of Isabela, he had lobbied to Secretary Esperanza Cabral for the additional 3,000 beneficiaries in the region for the 4Ps.

“The Secretary was so happy with our accomplishments that’s why she approved my request to give additional budget for 3,000 poor families but she wants Indigenous Peoples to be the target beneficiaries,” Garcia said.

He said they are currently conducting survey to determine the deserving municipalities to be the beneficiaries of the said program.

Because the Secretary wants that the beneficiaries are Indigenous Peoples, Garcia said they are considering the municipalities of Kayapa and Sta. Fe of Nueva Vizcaya, wherein all residents belong to the IP community.

Meantime, Director Ruben Bastero of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Region 2, expressed his gratitude that the IPs were considered beneficiaries for the said program.

Bastero said the decision is very much laudable because IPs are the real poor who deserve assistance from the government. (Oliver B./PIA 2)