The expansion of cash grants for pregnant and lactating women who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is aimed at further improving their health and nutrition, the 4Ps national program manager said on Thursday (June 13).

“Alam natin na pagdating sa malnutrisyon at stunting ay problema pa rin sa ating bayan, hindi lang sa 4Ps kundi pangkalahatan. maganda po itong initiative at masaya kami sa suporta ng ating Presidente,” 4Ps National Program Manager and Director Gemma Gabuya told reporters during the Thursday Media Forum at the DSWD Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City.

(We know that malnutrition and stunting are still problems in our country, not just within the 4Ps program but overall. Hence, this is a good initiative and we are happy with the support of our President.)

During a Sectoral Meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday (June 11), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr gave his go-signal for the DSWD’s proposal to include a First 1000 day-grant for the 4Ps beneficiaries who are pregnant, nursing, or those with two-year old children.

Director Gabuya explained that the approval of the additional cash grants for 4Ps households underscores the commitment of President Marcos to improve the nutrition and health of children and mothers in their first 1000-day journey.

“It is a reinforcement kung paanong lubos na napahahalagahan ang nutrition ng 0-2 . Kasi sabi nga the first three years of the child’s life is the most critical kasi nandoon nga ang brain development,” the 4Ps national program manager pointed out.

(It is a reinforcement of how much we value the nutrition of 0 to 2-year-old children. As they say, the first three years of a child’s life are the most critical because that is when brain development occurs.)

Director Gabuya added: “Ibig-sabihin kung maayos ang bata, eventually uunlad, tuloy-tuloy siyang mag-aaral, dahil siya nga ay madaling matuto at malusog na bata”.

(It means that if the children are well-taken care of, eventually, they will thrive, continue their education, because they will be quick learners and healthy children.)

According to the 4Ps national program manager, the proposed additional cash grant for active 4Ps households with pregnant and lactating woman is Php400.

The amount was determined based on the study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the government’s research agency

“This is on top of the current health grants… So kung ngayon, kung mayroong buntis at 0 to 2 years old , mayroon siyang dagdag na Php400,” Director Gabuya said.

(This is on top of the current health grants… So now, if there is a pregnant woman and a 0 to 2-year-old child, there will be an additional Php400.)

Each 4Ps household-beneficiary also gets P750 per month in health grants for 12 months provided that their children aged two to 14 years old undergo a growth development and monitoring program and deworming.

A Php600 worth of monthly rice allowance is also given to the 4Ps beneficiaries.

The 4Ps, implemented by the DSWD, is a national poverty reduction strategy institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11310 or “An Act Institutionalizing Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)” signed on April 17, 2019. It puts a premium on giving indigent families the means to break-away from the intergenerational cycle of poverty through human capital investments.#