KALIBO, Aklan – Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries must not pawn their cash cards to money lending companies and pawnshops, according to the program’s Aklan provincial operations officer.
Beverly Solanoy Salazar said she received reports that program beneficiaries in Aklan were using their cash cards as collateral for loans.
The 4Ps is a conditional cash transfer program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help the poor.
Its Aklan Provincial Operations Office recorded 40 cash card-related issues – Banga, 16; Kalibo, 12; Lezo, 8; Tangalan, 2; Nabas, 1; and Batan, 1.
According to Salazar, the misuse of the 4Ps cash cards, specifically pawning, is punishable under the DSWD National Advisory Committee’s (NAC) Resolution No. 20 series of 2014.
For the 40 cases, the household beneficiaries were initially sent written warnings by the Aklan Provincial Operations Office. They were also told to undergo counseling in their respective municipal social welfare offices.
If they pawn their cash cards once again, their cash grants will be suspended for two months. Another written warning will be sent, this time by the DSWD regional director. Another counseling will also be conducted, this time by DSWD itself.
A third violation would result to the beneficiary household’s delisting, and this is non-appealable, said Salazar.
Last year, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan approved a resolution urging all legitimate pawnshops and money lending companies to not tolerate this cash card pawning practice of 4Ps beneficiaries.
As of November 2020, Aklan had 26,392 active 4Ps beneficiary households receiving bi-monthly cash grants through their cash cards./PN
