The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will assist Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries who were affected by the onslaught of Typhoon ‘Rolly.’

According to the 4Ps National Project Management Office (NPMO), steps are now being undertaken so that cash grants covering the pay period for August to September will be released the soonest possible time to help beneficiaries, especially those from affected regions, to cope with the socio-economic setbacks brought by the weather disturbance and the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The program is also studying the possibility of declaring “force majeure” or suspending the compliance monitoring based on Section 11 of Republic Act No. 11310 or the “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act.” Under this provision, any or all of the conditions may be suspended by the DSWD Secretary during times of calamities, war, and armed conflicts.

This means that 4Ps beneficiaries will receive their full grants for the said period and are excused from complying to the program’s conditionalities which are: children 3 to 18 years old must be enrolled in kindergarten, elementary, and high school, and attend classes at least 85% of the time each month; children 0-5 years old must receive regular preventive health check-ups, growth monitoring, and vaccines; pregnant women get pre and post-natal care (must be attended by skilled/professional health workers); children in elementary must receive de-worming pills twice a year; and attendance of the grantee/parent/guardian to the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).

To declare force majeure, the DSWD Regional Director of the affected region must send an official memorandum to the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development requesting the suspension of compliance of conditionalities of 4Ps beneficiaries. It must be supported by a resolution from the Local Government Unit (LGU) declaring the locality under a state of calamity.

Meanwhile, the Department also requested 4Ps beneficiaries to coordinate with their City/ Municipal Links or to the nearest regional office for lost or damaged documents especially their cash cards so that they can be immediately assisted. For those beneficiaries with lost or damaged cash cards, they may withdraw their grants via over the counter transaction.

DSWD is consistently coordinating with affected local government units (LGUs) to address the needs of all families affected by the previous disaster. ###