Storm victims who left Visayas still entitled to cash grants

Supertyphoon “Yolanda” victims from Western, Central and Eastern Visayas who are beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will continue to receive their cash grants even if they have transferred to other areas, including Metro Manila.

All they have to do is to coordinate with the Municipal or City Links of the local social welfare and development office closest to their new homes, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced yesterday.

According to Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, the displaced beneficiaries will have to be validated so that their household profiles can be updated—a requirement for the processing of their cash grants.

They will be asked to present any of the following documents to the Municipal or City Links: Pantawid Pamilya identification card, cash card or DSWD agreement.

If they cannot show any document, they will be validated against the DSWD central office’s database of beneficiaries, she added.

Soliman said that as of Dec. 28, there were 23,489 individuals and 5,572 families from Yolanda-hit areas staying in the National Capital Region.

The 4Ps provides education and health cash grants of up to P1,400 to a family with three qualified children provided the children go to school and undergo checkups at the health centers. The beneficiaries should also attend Family Development Sessions.

There are 3.94 million families and 8.92 million children nationwide who are benefiting from the poverty alleviation program.