ILOILO City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas dismissed allegations that a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental died after getting vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“We would like to set the record straight. No 4Ps beneficiary died after being vaccinated,” stressed Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre.
This has been verified, too, by the Philippine National Police, she added.
DSWD urged the public to stop circulating the fake news through text messages or social media.
It also reminded 4Ps beneficiaries and the public that the conditions for the availment of cash grants are remain unchanged.
Macapobre urged the public to work together “in ensuring that everyone gets vaccinated for ourselves, our families, our community, and our country.”
“DSWD remains steadfast in its commitment to serve with maagap at mapagkalingang serbisyo by providing the right and accurate information to the public,” Macapobre said.
The 4Ps is a human development measure of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18. It is patterned after the conditional cash transfer (CCT) schemes in Latin American and African countries, which have lifted millions of people around the world from poverty.
DSWD is the lead government agency of the 4Ps.
In order to receive the subsidies, all the succeeding conditions must be met by the household-beneficiaries:
* Pregnant women must avail pre- and post-natal care, and be attended during childbirth by a trained professional;
* Parents or guardians must attend the family development sessions, which include topics on responsible parenting, health, and nutrition;
* Children aged 0-5 must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines;
* Children aged 6-14 must receive deworming pills twice a year; and
* Children-beneficiaries aged 3-18 must enroll in school, and maintain an attendance of at least 85% of class days every month./PN
