The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has registered 159,079 households (HHs) in Caraga region.

“The program started in 2008 covering twenty – four (24) municipalities in four (4) provinces. It is now on its six year of implementation,” Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli recalled.

Director Brigoli revealed that as of the first semester of this year, the program has reached 100% in its aim to cover five (5) provinces, nine (9) Congressional Districts, six (6) cities, and sixty – seven (67) municipalities in the region.

She added that 1,309 barangays or 99.84% are covered by the program.

“There are two (2) barangays namely Urduja and Soliman which are not covered by the program for they are commercial centers within Butuan City. Thus, there are no poor households identified in the areas, ” Brigoli said.

The majority of the Pantawid Pamilya grantees in the region are female, they consist of 142, 853 or 89.79% while only 16, 240 or 10.20% are male.

These numbers are expected to get higher because of the on – going validation of the households under the Extended – Age Coverage Program and the newly registered Set 7C households.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps (formerly Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino) is a conditional cash transfer program of the Philippine  government under DSWD that aims to eradicate extreme poverty in the Philippines by investing in health and education of children. ### Social Marketing Unit/ DSWD FO Caraga.