DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian | PHOTO: INQUIRER.net / Ryan Leagogo
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is reviewing the eligibility of about 1.4 million households who considered themselves poor to receive cash aid from the government, according to Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
Gatchalian said at a Palace briefing that the DSWD would finish reassessing the list of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or beneficiaries under the government’s cash transfer program before the end of September.
He said that part of the 1.4 million were the 700,000 households who were delisted during the pandemic but had appealed to the DSWD that they be included in the list again because they lost their jobs during the pandemic.
The DSWD chief said the remaining 700,000 were the households who were not assessed due to the pandemic.
“The reassessment is ongoing and it will be finished by September, so we can really make sure that we filter those who should be included in the 4Ps program,” he said.
He assured the public that the DSWD would not rush the delisting of possible beneficiaries without reviewing their cases.
He said the ongoing review was the reason for the delayed release of funds to 4Ps beneficiaries.
The DSWD received P151 billion this year for its social protection programs, with the 4Ps program receiving the biggest bulk of the fund.
Following the order of President Marcos, Gatchalian said that upon completion of the reassessment, the DSWD would immediately initiate disbursements to the newly confirmed beneficiaries.
Fund distribution, he said, would still be facilitated through cash cards issued to the beneficiaries.
“While we want to fast-track the release of funds, we want to avoid the observation that the wrong people are the ones receiving the aid,” he said. INQ
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