DIPOLOG CITY, NOV. 29 (PIA)---Nearly ten thousand families from
Zamboanga del Norte province were added as beneficiaries to the anti-poverty program
of the government- the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT)- a component of the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Mr.
Resty Ragas, 4Ps Provincial Grievance Officer said, 9,696 additional poor
families in Zamboanga del Norte identified thru the National Household
Targeting System for Poverty Reduction survey were among the more than 40,000
families in the region to benefit the program.
The
new batch of 4Ps beneficiaries, belonging to set 6 of the 4Ps beneficiaries were
enrolled in the program after the registration/validation was conducted from
September to November 2012.
Under
the Program, each family-beneficiary will receive a maximum of P1,400.00
monthly allowance for the health and educational needs of the children, until
they reach 14 years old, provided they comply with the requirements set under
the program.
Each
studying child is expected to spend 85% of their time in school and should not
incur three(3) absences from classes in a month while those aging below 5 years
must be regularly brought to the health center for medical check-up and the
needed immunization.
Meanwhile,
Ragas reminded the beneficiaries of their responsibilities under the program,
like their attendance and participation in the monthly Family Development Session
regularly called by their designated parent-leader.
Ragas
also warned parent-leaders to refrain from calling for a meeting among parents
other than what is mandated under the program. He urged them to closely
coordinate with their Municipal or City Links before holding any meeting.
He
issued this warning after receiving report that some parent-leaders are holding
a meeting not for Family Development Session but to discuss election-related
issues, particularly on the candidate to be voted upon this coming 2013 election.
Ragas
also cautioned the 4Ps aspirants not to be fooled by the promises of some local
politicians of their assured membership to the program once they will vote for
a particular candidate this coming election.
The
Provincial Grievance Officer clarified that the transfer of voting precincts
won’t affect the membership of the 4Ps beneficiaries as long as proper
coordination is made to the Municipal or City Links regarding the transfer of
residency.
Ragas
stressed that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is an anti-poverty
alleviation program of the national government and its would-be beneficiaries
are determined only through the NHTS survey conducted the DSWD and not by any
politician.(JPA/ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)