DSWD met with COA to clarify alleged double payouts, duplicated names in 4Ps
Featured, News August 5, 2019, 0 Comment 0The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted an exit conference with the Commission on Audit (COA) in May 2019 where it presented its actions to resolve the audit findings on the alleged double payments of beneficiaries with duplicated names under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
DSWD reiterates that upon DSWD’s validation, many duplicates identified in the COA list were found to be distinct/unique, and the households are with different family composition and monitored children. These unique households shall be retained as active beneficiaries and shall remain in the list of beneficiaries being monitored. Those validated as duplicate entries have been tagged in the data base and will no longer be included in the active list of beneficiaries.
In a related issue, DSWD Field Office (FO) Caraga explains that it has already initiated an investigation and validation regarding the discrepancies in the signatures of 4Ps payrolls in the region in October 2018.
FO Caraga also clarifies that all 57 beneficiaries are genuine claimants and recipients of the grants that COA questioned as per its investigation and validation. A certification was issued to COA on this which was duly acknowledged as early as March 2019.
Based on the Action Plan Monitoring Tool of the region dated June 20, 2019 issued by the resident COA Auditors, the status of the aforesaid Audit Observation Memo is already fully implemented and complied with.
DSWD encourages the public to report to the agency any knowledge on duplicate household entries as part of its sincere effort to clean its database and in adherence to transparency and accountability in its program implementation.
4Ps investment in dev’t, not “dole-out”
DSWD assures the public that 4Ps, is not a “dole out” program because the households must comply with specific program conditions before they will receive cash grants.
For education, children 3-18 years old must be enrolled in kindergarten, elementary, and high school, and at least 85% of class attendance each month.
The conditions for health include 0-5 years old children to be sent to nearest health center for full immunization, monthly weighing (0-23 months old) or bimonthly weighing (24-72 months olds), and managed for childhood illnesses; school children shall avail deworming service according to DOH guidelines and protocols; pregnant women must avail of pre and postnatal health check-ups; delivery should be attended by professional service provider; and parents must attend Family Development Sessions (FDS) once a month.
With Republic Act 11310 or the 4Ps Act of 2019, 4Ps becomes the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households to improve the health, nutrition, and education aspect of their lives. In order for the poor beneficiaries to exit or graduate from the program, the law provided for the households to be prioritized in the availment of interventions and employment facilitation services under DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) or other appropriate or similar programs offered by other government agencies or accredited private institutions.
4Ps, to date, is considered one of the largest and best-targeted social safety net programs in the world that has benefited the poor and vulnerable in the Philippines. Asian countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia came to the Philippines to study about how the program is being implemented.
It is anchored on the paradigm of breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty by keeping children in school and healthy for this will provide them a strong fighting chance to have a better future.
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