by Alfonso T. RudaDIPOLOG CITY, Oct. 7 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) effort to cleanse its list of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries has been proven effective as thousands of them have already been. In Dipolog City, during the City Advisory Committee Meeting, Social Welfare Officer I Mary Fil Amelyn M. Aying, said they have already removed more than 1,000 members from its list 4Ps beneficiaries in Dipolog City after they have bee found to be not qualified to avail of the program. Some of the reasons cited by Aying during the City Advisory Committee Meting were the error committed during the data gathering; failure of the beneficiaries to comply with the conditions set by the program and some of the children-beneficiaries were already above 14 years old, which is the age limit set for 4Ps. Meanwhile, throughout Zamboanga del Norte, DSWD Project Development Officer II Alex Sabal said, its cleansing effort has already resulted to the removal of more or less 8,000 4Ps beneficiaries in Zamboanga del Norte. “From the original list of more than 75,000 4Ps beneficiairies, it is now down to more or less 67,000,” Sabal said. However, Sabal has not yet disclosed the exact figure as they are still awaiting reports from other municipalities of the province. Meanwhile, DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, in her latest visit to the province, has reiterated her appeal to the media to help the government in its information dissemination campaign on the program. Soliman cited the vital role of media, particularly, the broadcast media in the government’s information and dissemination campaign since its broadcast reaches the remotest areas where most of the beneficiaries of the government anti- poverty alleviation program live. According to her, the people in the remote areas merely rely on radio as their source of information particularly on the government programs. Under the program, every household is entitled to receive a P300.00 monthly cash assistance for their children aging below 14 years and another 500 for the family or a maximum of P1,400.00 per month. The assistance is primarily for the basic health and education needs of the family. However family beneficiaries have also to comply with the conditions set forth by the program. The children should spend 85% of their time attending to their classes; that they are regularly given medical check-up at the barangay health center; and that the mother regularly attend Responsible parenthood session conducted for the purpose. (JPA/ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte) | 