ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA— The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has signified its support to the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the country’s conditional cash transfer, poverty-alleviation program that is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The joint memorandum circular no. 001-2022 which was signed last September 2022 was released by the two agencies states the guidelines and roles of the local government units (LGUs) across Zamboanga Peninsula in the implementation of program. It highlights the convergence of programs and services among national and local government agencies.

“The DILG and the DSWD have always been partners in providing social services to the poorest of the poor. This JMC only strengthens the partnership for a collaborative whole-of-the-nation approach,” DSWD-9 Regional Director, Riduan P. Hadjimuddin said.

In the said JMC, the LGUs will monitor the support and interventions given to the 4Ps beneficiaries including those that have already graduated or exited from the program. This is done to sustain the level of well-being of the beneficiaries especially if they have already reached Self-Sufficiency level as per DSWD’s Social Welfare and Development Indicator assessment.

The Institutional Partnership Division (IPD) of the DSWD-4Ps will convene the LGUs in the coming months for the orientation on the guidelines as stated in the DSWD-DILG JMC 001-2022.

As of the most recent Period, the 4Ps program in Region IX serves 252,205 household beneficiaries that receive 750 pesos a month for health, 700 pesos for every child in Senior High School, 500 pesos for every child in Junior High School, and 300 pesos for every child in Elementary education. The program can only accommodate a maximum of 3 children per household to be granted with monthly educational grant. Apart from this, a family beneficiary also receives 600 pesos per month as rice subsidy.