Among regions, Bicol got biggest chunk of cash transfer funds

NAGA CITY—Bicol received P5.5 billion to implement the government’s conditional cash transfer program, the biggest allocation for a region under the program, according to a top regional official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The DSWD Bicol office also has the biggest number of employees—more than 2,000

—who provide services to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and other program of the department, said Regional Director Arnel Garcia.

Among the regions, Bicol got the biggest share of 4Ps funds last year, P5.4 billion, according to a detailed DSWD budget posted in the website of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Biggest slice of budget

According to Garcia, at least 379,000 people were listed as 4Ps beneficiaries in Bicol last year.

Camarines Sur had the most beneficiaries but poverty was most severe in Masbate, he said.

Outside of the provinces, the National Capital Region (NCR), however, got the biggest slice of the 2014 4Ps budget—P11.5 billion.

“Bicol is considered a mega region,” said Garcia. “So if we fail, the national performance will also fail. That’s why we have the largest budget (among the regions),” he said.