BUTUAN CITY -The Department of Social Welfare and Development has started the orientation of the officials of the new areas of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to familiarize them of the program implementation process of the 15 new areas, Director Mercedita P. Jabagat finished the orientation of the 5 towns which are scheduled to have the validation and registration of 4Ps potential household beneficiaries on the first week of January. These towns include Trento and Bayugan of Agusan del Sur; Sison and Bacuag of Surigao del Norte and Barobo of Surigao del Sur.

It was participated in by the Municipal Mayor, Vice Mayor, Barangay captains, Municipal Social Welfare Officers (MSWDO), Municipal Health Officer (MHO), school principals, Municipal Local Government Officer (MLGOO).

DSWD Regional Dir. Mercedita P. Jabagat, told officials that the program is a strategy of the government that will address the human development goal. Dir. Jabagat also stressed that the program is not a dole-out given that there are conditions set by the program that the beneficiaries needs to comply.

The mayors welcomed the program and pledged to give their full support to the implementation of the program in their municipalities.

The other towns to benefit from 4Ps in 2011 are: Buenavista, Carmen, Cabadbaran, Kitcharao and RTR of Agusan del Norte Province; Bayugan, San France and Trento of Agusan del Sur Province; Bacuag, Placer, San France, Sison and Surigao City of Surigao del Norte Province and Tubod, and Barobo of Surigao del Sur Province.

In 2011, an additional of 60, 490 potential household will be registered in Caraga region. 4Ps covers 70 municipalities in the region.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is one of the flagship programs of the government in poverty reduction. The program provides cash grants to extremely poor households to help improve their health, nutrition and education especially children aged 6-14. # # # (Social Marketing Unit)