LGU Itogon held its first-quarter Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on March 31, 2025, at the Balingway Hall. The MAC was led by Municipal Administrator Arnel F. Bahingawan on behalf of Mayor Bernard S. Waclin, addressing concerns barangay officials raised regarding the program’s implementation.
The 4Ps program provides conditional cash grants to low-income families to improve health, reduce child labor, and promote education for children.
Novelyn Balangui of the Municipal Operations Office (MOO) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Field Office Cordillera (FO CAR) explained that the amount of cash assistance varies depending on the number of dependents in each household. Households with dependents aged 18 years and below receive the following allowances: P300 per month for elementary school students, P500 for junior high school students, and P700 for senior high school students. An additional P750 per month is provided to households with pregnant women or children under 5, along with a P600 monthly rice subsidy.
Currently, Itogon has 925 active 4Ps households.
Eighty-five households are expected to graduate or exit the program this year. Beneficiaries may be removed from the program if their dependents turn 19, they have been part of the program for more than seven years, they voluntarily waive their benefits, their well-being improves, or they engage in misconduct such as gambling.
While no delistings due to misbehavior have been reported in Itogon, Social Welfare Officer Esther Alfredo emphasized the importance of barangay officials reporting any instances of misbehavior, such as gambling, drug involvement, or other illegal activities. The DSWD will conduct a thorough validation process to remove any beneficiaries found guilty of such behaviors.
During the meeting, barangay officials raised concerns about some 4Ps dependents who were reported as not attending school. Balangui explained that the reasons for absenteeism included long distances to schools, health issues, early marriage, and some students working while attending school.
Barangay officials also encouraged 4Ps beneficiaries to participate in community activities, such as the monthly cleanup drives. Balanguio suggested that barangay officials participate in the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS) to help motivate 4Ps families to engage in community development initiatives.
The DSWD also clarified that municipal and barangay officials are not allowed to recommend households for inclusion in the 4Ps program. Only the DSWD’s Listahanan, a national census system that identifies low-income families, has the authority to enroll or remove beneficiaries from the program.
The 4Ps MOO Itogon also reported improvement in the socio-economic conditions of 4Ps beneficiaries, as measured by the Social Welfare and Development Indicator (SWDI). Compared to 2023, 2024 data shows improvements in employment rates, income, secure housing, access to education, and healthcare, as well as access to clean water.
