More than 17,000 households in Bataan benefit from 4Ps

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said there are 17,088 household-beneficiaries in Bataan under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Cindy Pineda, Social Welfare Officer III, said the number is the latest report as of July 13, 2015 that corresponds to active and registered households from 11 towns and one city.

In 2014, benefits amounted to P349, 471, 200 for 4Ps recipients in Bataan. She said they are looking into gambling and pawning of cash cards, altho minimal, practiced by some beneficiaries.

Pineda said there is a big struggle on gambling activities indulged into by some of the 4Ps beneficiaries. “We have coordinated with barangay officials who know better the activities of recipients of the program to put a stop to gambling activities,” she said.

On the pawning of cash cards or automated teller machine cards, Pineda said of the 11,699 members with cash cards, only 11 cases were reported doing the prohibited act.

Other beneficiaries receive their payout through over the counter scheme by designated conduits. Payments are made every two months. She said that they have talked and advised the lenders not to accept ATMs as pawns from 4Ps beneficiaries.

Being first offenders, the 4Ps beneficiaries were given written warning by the Provincial Link and counseling by the Municipal Link. The two links are in charge in the administration of 4Ps in the provincial and municipal levels, respectively.

“So far, those caught did not do it again or else, they will face harsher penalties of either suspension of benefits or of being de-listed in the program,” Pineda said. She said that the first time offenders reasoned out that they were forced to pawn their cash cards out of emergency needs. “May biglaan daw na pangangailangan ng pera (there was an immediate need for cash),” Pineda said.

“My child got sick and I have no money to buy medicines prescribed by the doctor so I was forced to pawn my cash card,” said one beneficiary. Some said their husbands are only seasonal agriculture workers and they needed food for the family.

Nancy Zabala, 43, said she has not resorted to pawning her cash card despite some financial problems. “Natatakot ako na mawala ang benepisyo ko (I fear losing my benefits),” she said. Of Zabala’s seven children three are under the program. She receives P500 under the health requirement and for the educational part of the program, P500 each for her two children in high school and P300 for her child in elementary school, or a total of P1,800 monthly.

Only three children, 18 years old and below are eligible to the program. “Nakakatulong ito sa amin at lalo sanang makakabawas sa problema namin kung madadagdagan pa (It benefits us and the more it will help us in our financial woes if it will be increased),” the housewife said laughing. Her husband works as a mason.