DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rexton Gatchalian expressed optimism that the expanded cash grants under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps will help in combating malnutrition and stunting among Filipino kids.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the expanded cash grants for pregnant and lactating women under 4Ps.

Gatchalian said the additional grant for the 4Ps program will serve as an incentive for beneficiaries to access healthcare services effectively, addressing malnutrition and stunting among Filipino children.

“This will serve as an incentive for them to have this what we call health-seeking behavior, which means they will be motivated to go to the health center, register, avail of pre-and post-natal care, and post-partum treatment, including immunization for their zero to two-year-old children,” Gatchalian said.

The secretary further said the proposed grant would exclusively benefit 4Ps subset beneficiaries who are pregnant, nursing, or have children zero to two years, and it is temporary, ceasing once they surpass this stage.

Under the DSWD’s 4Ps program, households are provided with cash aid, dependent upon their children’s school attendance and regular visits to health centers for monthly medical check-ups.

For households with elementary students, the aid amounts to P300 per child per month for 10 months.

For families with junior high school students, the cash grant amounts to P500 per child per month for 10 months, while for households with senior high school students, the aid amounts to P700 per child per month for 10 months.

The households also receive P750 per month for 12 months if their children aged two to 14 years participate in a growth development and monitoring program, undergo deworming, and attend monthly family development sessions.