Some 98,676 poor households in Metro Manila received their monthly cash grants under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program through over-the-counter payment being held simultaneously in 16 cities and one municipality.

DSWD-NCR Regional Director Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan said these additional beneficiaries were enrolled in the program in the last quarter of 2012.  This is in addition to the existing 114,000 families.

“As of March 11, 2013, there are 205,780 households in NCR who are benefiting from the government’s Pantawid Pamilya program, Bonoan added.

Under the program, beneficiaries should comply with the conditionalities such as send their children to school, seek regular health check-up, de-worming twice a year and regular attendance to family development sessions.

Each family who complies with these conditions received a maximum of P1,400 monthly cash grants.

Meanwhile, Bonoan cautioned the beneficiaries against politicians who will use the program to advance their political agenda by threatening them on being removed or delisted from the program if they will not support the said politician.

“Only DSWD Central or Regional Office has the authority to remove the beneficiaries from the program if they will not comply to the conditionalities,”
Bonoan stressed.

Bonoan added that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is not controlled by any politician or political party and they do not have the authority to add or remove beneficiaries.