by Kay Althea F. Ordillo and Vhernadette A. Oracion
March 5 marked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s First Payout Pantawid Pamilya – Los Baños in Brgy. Baybayin covered court as part of the country’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P).
From 7 am to 2:30 pm, DSWD 4A recorded 1,322 4P beneficiaries from different Los Baños barangays. Started in October 2013, this is the third activity in the First Payout Pantawid Pamilya-Los Baños. The event is held every two months and is managed by the regional offices of the DSWD. The 4P is a national program that aims to provide assistance to families who are below the poverty threshold.
Janela Raflores, muncipal link of the DSWD Region 4A (CALABARZON), explained that the goal of the program is to help families in Los Baños who have qualified for the basic requirements. Raflores elaborated that the project focuses on pregnant women and children aged 0-14 years.
To become 4P beneficiaries, families go through interviews and are listed down as potential candidates for the program. They are further screened and reassessed. Beneficiaries are constantly monitored and can have their grants taken away if they commit offenses like gambling.
Raflores explained that there are no limits set for the number of beneficiaries in each barangay. For Los Baños, the barangay with the highest number of beneficiaries that received grants was Brgy. Mayondon with 157 families and the barangay with the smallest number of beneficiaries was Baybayin with 23 recorded beneficiaries.