The Government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program also known as the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) that is being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will extend the age coverage of Pantawid Pamilya children beneficiaries to all registered Pantawid Pamilya households this June 2014.

Previously, Pantawid Pamilya covers only households with children aged 0-14 years old. With the extended age coverage, the program will extend the age coverage of Pantawid Pamilya children beneficiaries to 15-18 years old or finishes high school whichever comes first.

The expansion of age coverage will allow Pantawid Pamilya children to finish high school especially those who are under the K-12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

The Department believes that a child will have better opportunities if he or she graduated high school compared to those who only finish elementary.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is one of the flagship poverty reduction programs of the Government the program provides cash grants to beneficiairies provided that they will comply to the set conditionalities of the program.

At present, DSWD Caraga has 158,571 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries benefiting from the program. ### (Stella Maris V. Barcelon/Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)