THE government’s cash grants issued through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program can not be pawned or used as loan collateral, said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) over reports of abuse in its use. “The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a national government implemented poverty reduction strategy which provides cash grants to extremely poor households, but with set conditions on health and education”, explains Aileen Lariba, program information officer. “Any abuse on the card subjects the beneficiary to automatic suspension and the risk of eventual delisting from the program,” she warned.

The program grants beneficiaries some P500 per month for nutrition and health and P300 for each of the beneficiary’s three children or a maximum of P1400 a month for a family with three school-age kids. Other than being an immediate and short term poverty alleviation strategy, the program is also designed as a social development strategy that breaks the vicious cycle of inter-generational poverty through investing in human capital. This way, the program helps fulfill the country’s commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals of Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger, achieving Universal Primary Education, Promoting Gender Equality, Reducing Child Mortality and Improving Maternal Health, the DSWD source sums up. However, pressed against the seemingly impenetrable wall of extreme economic conditions, beneficiaries, who have to go through an 8-step cycle to be in the program are reportedly forced to pawn and put these cards as loan collateral, payable as soon as a new release of cash grants happen.

As it continues to educate and develop these identified beneficiaries, the DSWD urges the public cooperation, partnership and vigilance to make these cash grants work the way these are intended. These cash cards should not be abused and as these are not acceptable as collateral nor guarantee on any loans. For any violation reported and proven, beneficiary is subjected to automatic suspension and eventually delisting from the program. Furthermore, the DSWD encourages the beneficiaries to practice responsibility by safeguarding their cash cards from getting lost since this is their ultimate identification in all Pantawid Pamilya activities and other services that would be accorded to them in the near future. To report abuse and discrepancies in the use of grants, use the syntax: 4Ps<space>name <address>complaint and send to 0918-912-2813. (Rey Anthony Chiu with Aileen Lariba)