THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region is now in the process of validating would-be beneficiaries for the unconditional cash transfer (UCT) of the government.
Listahanan regional field coordinator Theodore Solang explained the beneficiaries will come from the listed families under the Panatawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) aside from the selected beneficiaries of the social pension program for indigent senior citizens and the non-Pantawid beneficiaries listed.
"At present, the validation process of the UCT program for would be beneficiaries is ongoing particularly at Badeo and Tacadang in Kibungan and Kayapa in Bakun in the Province of Benguet," Solang said.
The DSWD was given the responsibility by congress to implement the distribution of the P200 per month UCT, and we will carry out responsibility in the most efficient way.
"We estimate some 31,000 people in the Cordillera listed would be beneficiaries after undermining the validation process. A cash grant aside from 66,000 social pension coming from the 62,000 beneficiaries under 4Ps,"Solang added.
A mechanism enabling the DSWD to distribute the P200 UCT to 10 million Filipinos who belong to the poorer sectors of the country is now being implemented.
Aside from the implementation of other social welfare programs, DSWD will take the task of setting up a new program management office (PMO) which will focus on the payroll generation, beneficiary validation, and the release of the funds to the beneficiaries.
Many Filipinos are in immediate for economic assistance from the government in the wake of the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law (Train) which has caused an increase in petroleum prices.
DSWD aims to finish the distribution of the UCT before the end of June 2018 while it continues to coordinate with the Department of Finance, Land Bank of the Philippines, as well as other possible partners to ensure that the implementation of UCT for three years as stipulated in the TRAIN will go smoothly.
It will release P2,400 (P200 per month) in 2018 and a total of P3,600 (P300 per month) in 2019 and in 2020. Some P24 billion has been earmarked for 2018.
