DSWD says conditionalities for 4Ps recipients affected by Mayon eruption to be suspended
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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that it will suspend the conditionalities for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries areas in Albay affected by the continued eruptive activities of Mt. Mayon.
DSWD Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel A. Leyco made the announcement during a situational briefing on the relief operations for Mayon evacuees that attended by President Rodrigo R. Duterte and the head officials of different national government agencies and local government units (LGUs).
“We have already met with officials of our regional office in the Bicol Region and we decided that we will call for the suspension of the conditionalities for 4Ps so that our beneficiaries can receive their cash grants without having to meet the conditions for the program,” Leyco reported to President Duterte.
Under the 4Ps program, beneficiaries should comply with a number of conditionalities, including sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for check-up, and attending the Family Development Sessions (FDS) conducted by the Department to continue to avail the cash grant.
The DSWD Field Office in Region V reported that 6,114 Pantawid household-beneficiaries under the jurisdiction of nine LGUs of Albay have been affected by Mayon’s unrest.
Of the total figure, 5,479 4Ps households are currently staying in evacuation centers.
The department also said that the DSWD will also implement its Cash-for-Work (CFW) program for the affected residents staying in evacuation centers.
“The CFW is a short-term intervention of the Department to provide temporary employment to distressed or displaced individuals by participating in preparedness, mitigation, relief, rehabilitation or risk reduction projects and activities in their communities or in evacuation centers,” DSWD said.
“We will make our cash-for-work payouts more frequently so that the beneficiaries will be able to receive the cash as they need them,” Leyco was quoted as saying.
