TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region has started the distribution of new cash cards to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries on Thursday (June 12).
DSWD Regional Director Restituto Macuto said new cards issued by the Land Bank of the Philippines are meant for conditional cash transfer recipients who got their cash aid through over-the-counter transactions in banks and other financial institutions.
These EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) cards from Land Bank are meant for 81,000 4Ps families in Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Southern Leyte provinces.
The DSWD is eyeing to complete the distribution by next month.
“We have already completed the release of cash cards for Biliran and Leyte between March and April.
Biliran has only 4,000 beneficiaries while for Leyte, the Veterans Bank handled the card production for 60,000 families,” Macuto said.
The new cash cards can be used in any Land Bank ATM outlets without additional charge or in any bank with additional charges of P10.
After the distribution of new cards, the DSWD will start the process of “recarding” for recipients who are still using non-EMV cards.
The region has more than 280,000 4Ps beneficiaries as of this year.
The conditional cash transfer program locally known as 4Ps, is a government program that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor in the country and aims to break the cycle of poverty by keeping children aged 0-18 healthy and in school, so they can have a better future.
Households receive cash grants if children stay in school and get regular health check-ups, have their growth monitored, and receive vaccines. Pregnant women must get pre-natal care, with their births attended to by professional health workers.
Parents or guardians are required to participate in monthly community-based family development sessions to learn about positive child discipline, disaster preparedness, and women’s rights.
(MELVA MAE C. MENIANO)
