THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development-Western Visayas (DSWD-6) office is preparing for the validation of beneficiaries under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), wherein cash assistance is distributed to the poorest of the poor. Jonathan C. Anteza, DSWD-6 4Ps regional program coordinator, said there are currently 315,416 active 4Ps beneficiaries in the region, but they target to validate 389,928 in the official poor households list. “Two weeks from now, we will start with the validation and we hope to finish it before the end of the year,” he said. The validation is part of DSWD’s Malawakang Kamustahan Project, which aims to profile, account and validate the status of the 4.4 million 4Ps beneficiaries nationwide. Meanwhile, Mr. Anteza also reported that 772 beneficiaries in the region have voluntarily withdrawn from the program as these households have transitioned to non-poor status. “They have voluntarily waived since they think they no longer deserve to receive help from the government,” he said. The 4Ps program was launched in 2008 under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and continued by the succeeding administrations. — Louine Hope Conserva

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