by Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–The P600 monthly rice grants to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is better off distributed in the form of cash instead of actual rice in bags.
This was the statement of House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan on Sunday (April 14) as he urged the government agency tasked in the distribution.
“Rice is good, but cash is better because the money gets delivered straight and fast into the LandBank cash cards of 4Ps households,” said Libanan, the congressional representative of 4Ps Partylist, as he wanted this present distribution process be continued.
Libanan made the statement in response to some proposals converting the monetary 4Ps rice grants into actual rice in bags, which will be supplied by the National Food Authority.
He said: “Converting the rice grants into tangible rice packs will likely pose a logistical nightmare, considering that 4Ps households are spread all over the country, including remote barangays.”
Moving large volumes of rice bags to every 4Ps household nationwide “will be extremely difficult, and is bound to create delays, inefficiency and waste,” said Libanan, citing that there are more than 5 million 4Ps households across 17 regions, 79 provinces, 1,484 towns, and 143 cities.
Libanan said he supports the stand of the DSWD to continue giving the rice grants in cash to 4Ps households. The rice grants is being given currently to 4Ps households, in addition to their education and health grants, which are also given in cash through the debit cards from the bank.
“With cash, 4Ps households will be free to spend the money according to their immediate needs – whether it is food, medicines, or school transportation fare for their children,” said Libanan, adding that he agreed with DSWD that rice grants in cash “is more practical.”
The 4Ps is the government’s social protection and human capital development program that provides cash aid to poor households, subject to their compliance with requirements, such as sending their children to school, visiting health centers for check-ups, and attending family development sessions.
Under the 2024 General Appropriations Law, the 4Ps households has a tot allocation of P106.3 billion in cash grants. —-Miriam G. Desacada