UNICEF through DSWD extends P153M assistance to beneficiaries of 4Ps in Eastern Samar

The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, will extend P153 million financial assistance to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on over 5,801 households in the municipalities of Guiuan, Hernani, Mercedes, Balangkayan and Salcedo who were worst affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. The identified beneficiaries are from vulnerable households unable to meet their food and essential nonfood needs. The partnership exemplifies strengthened support of Unicef to the 4Ps household survivors in its current recovery phase activities and reaffirms its strong commitment in its work to advance the welfare of children.

Under a memorandum of agreement signed by Unicef and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), each household beneficiary will receive P4,400 monthly, on top of the regular cash grant provided by the department. Family beneficiaries of 4Ps usually receive a cash grant worth P500 and health grants of P300 to P500 each for at least three children who are studying in elementary and high school.

These cash grants are given provided that the household beneficiaries will send their children to school or will have 85-percent attendance, regularly visit health centers for checkup and updated receiving of vaccinations to ensure that their family and children are healthy and educated or in school, and attending Family Development Sessions that teach them some lessons in improving their family relationships and lives.

The program is an investment of the government on the health and education of the poor families to enable them to finish studies, value the essence of good health and become productive future work force of the country that will have higher chances or capability to become self-sufficient as they become employable or earn incomes that will lift themselves and their families from poverty.

The Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) program of the UNICEF will benefit 5,801 4Ps households in the Yolanda-hit municipalities of Guiuan, Hernani, Mercedes, Balangkayan and Salcedo, all in Eastern Samar.

The additional cash grant will cover six months starting July until December 2014.