The First 1,000 Days (F1KD) conditional cash grant under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is meant to alleviate the issue of malnutrition, particularly among low-income households in the country.
4Ps Social Marketing Division (SMD) Chief Marie Grace Ponce said the roll out of the F1KD additional cash grants will be instrumental in ensuring the access to comprehensive healthcare services of pregnant and lactating women.
“Ang F1KD cash grants po ay ibinibigay po natin sa mga buntis at may edad na 0-2 na mga bata. Ito ay pagkilala doon sa malaking problema natin pagdating sa stunting. Mula sa pagbubuntis kasi doon nag-uumpisa ang critical development ng isang bata,” SMD Chief Ponce told the DSWD’s online program 4Ps Fastbreak on Wednesday (December 4).
SMD Chief Ponce stressed that the set of conditionalities of the program will reinforce a nurturing environment for child growth, particularly during the critical 1,000 day-period.
“Mula nga sa mga itinakda nating mga kondisyon, gusto natin na lalaki nang malusog yung mga ipinag-bubuntis at tuloy-tuloy na na-momonitor ang paglaki ng kanilang mga anak at nabibigyan ng atensiyong medikal,” SMD Chief Ponce pointed out.
The conditionalities for the cash grants will include accessing pre-natal services at Department of Health (DOH)-accredited health facilities; tracking pregnancy and receiving ante-natal care services; attending post-natal visits; participating in counseling sessions; and obtaining micronutrient supplements and immunizations, among other services.
The 4Ps division chief clarified that the DSWD does not intend to encourage pregnancy among beneficiaries.
Through the regular conduct of family development sessions (FDS) which are attended by 4Ps beneficiaries, the agency moves to instill the importance of birth spacing and responsible parenthood.
“Hindi po ibig sabihin na with F1KD ay hinihikayat natin na mag-buntis ang ating mga beneficiaries dahil nga po kasama po sa programa natin ay yung pagtuturo ng responsible parenthood. Kabilang na po dyan ay yung wastong agwat ng pagbubuntis, pagpaplano ng kanilang pamilya, kung ilan lang ang kayang palakihin, at pag-aralin ng isang pamilya,” SMD Chief Ponce explained.
The F1KD is set to boost the nutrition-specific benefits of 4Ps starting January 2025, particularly to household-beneficiaries with pregnant and lactating mothers nursing children aged 0-2 years old.
Launched in 2008 and institutionalized in 2019 through Republic Act No. 11310 ot the 4Ps Act, the program provides cash grants to more than four million households whose children are given subsidies to finish elementary and senior high school and supported with health and nutrition grants.
The “4Ps Fastbreak” is hosted by Information Officer Venus Balito from the Digital Media Service (DMS) of the Strategic Communications Group and airs every Wednesday at 11 am on the DSWD’s Facebook platform.
