More than 700,000 families, who were earlier labeled as non-poor, will be re-included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Department of Social and Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Thursday.
In a press conference, 4P's national program manager Gemma Gabuya said that 761,140 families still need assistance after a reassessment of over a million 4P's households tagged as non-poor based on Listahanan 3.
"Kasi nakita natin na hindi pa nila kaya economically na ma-sustain ang kanilang pangangailangan," said Gabuya.
The DSWD performed the reassessment following an appeal from delisted beneficiaries who cited their difficult economic and social circumstances as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased costs for essential products.
The reinclusion, according to Gabuya, was evaluated based on several factors, including how many times beneficiary families are able to eat in one day, health, and if there are still children in the family that are attending school.
Gabuya added that those beneficiaries who have been reactivated should anticipate getting cash grants once more starting this month or in November and end of January.
In addition, only 39,660 families had a more reliable source of income to cover necessities like education and healthcare, which are out of 4P's membership and will be endorsed to their local government unit for post-service monitoring.
The DSWD, meanwhile, warned the public against promises by candidates in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections that they could get families into the program.
Only DSWD personnel can process 4Ps applications, according to Social Welfare Assistant Secretary Rommel Lopez.
“Wala po silang matuturo, wala silang maire-rekomenda dahil sistema po ng DSWD ang gumagana sa pag-identify ng ating 4Ps beneficiaries,” he said.
