LAGONOY, CAMARINES SUR (May 18, 2012) – During a village assembly here on Thurs. (May 17), over 200 “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” (4Ps) beneficiaries in barangay Burabod in this town have questioned the local Social Welfare municipal office over the reduction in their “conditional cash transfer” benefits by almost 60%, which they alleged to be anomalous.
A local resident, Leopaldo de Anong, said his family used to receive some P 2,200 monthly, but since November last year this was reduced to only P800.00 pesos, despite his compliance with most of the requirements of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Another resident Noel Peñera said, “parang may anomaliya ang paraan ng pagbibigay ng 4Ps," as he claimed that local DSWD officials do not bother to explain the reductions in benefits.
It was also reported that the 4Ps cash transfers in Lagonoy are not released from a government bank but coursed through a local financing firm in Lagonoy town.
Another beneficiary, Myra Solivares, who rely on the 4Ps for the enrollment expenses of her children complained she was among many who were removed from the list of beneficiaries in Lagonoy for no apparent reason. (SONNY SALES)