4Ps now covers all Ifugao towns

By Daniel B. Codamon

Thursday 12th of April 2012

LAGAWE, Ifugao, April 12 (PIA) -- The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the government under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) now covers all the 11 municipalities of this province.

Minda Romero, Social Welfare and Development Team Leader of the Social Protection Programs of the DSWD in Ifugao, said there are now a total of 8,907 indigent household beneficiaries from all the towns in the province availing of the financial assistance given by the 4Ps called conditional cash transfer (CCT).

She said that from February until the first week of April, the DSWD has disbursed the total amount of P20,180,100 as CCT assistance to the 8,907 household beneficiaries as education and health and nutrition grant to alleviate their economic burdens.

Each household receives P500 per month as health and nutrition assistance or P6,000 per year and P300 per month per child to a maximum of three children for ten months or P3,000/year but they must comply with the conditions set under the program.

The conditions under health and nutrition provides that the pregnant household members should visit the local health center to avail of pre-natal and post-natal care, avail of appropriate delivery services by skilled health professional and avail of at least one post-natal care within six weeks after childbirth.

They must also visit their health center for the immunization of their children 0-5 years old; have monthly weight monitoring and nutrition counseling for their children 0 to 2 years old; have quarterly weight monitoring for their 25 to 73 weeks old children; have management of childhood diseases for sick children and their children 6-14 years old must receive deworming pills twice a year.

For the educational conditions, their children 3-5 years old must be enrolled in a day care or pre-school program while and children 6-14 years old must also be enrolled in elementary and secondary school. They all must maintain a class attendance rate of at least 85% per month.

The parents or guardians should also attend Family Development Sessions (FDS) at least once a month, ensure attendance in responsible parenthood sessions and family counseling sessions, participate in community activities and promote and strengthen the implementation of the 4Ps.

Romero added that they are now on the stage of conducting FDS to the households to ensure their compliance with the conditions so that their CCTs will not be suspended. (JDP/DBC-PIA CAR Ifugao)