TWENTY-FIVE residents in Laguna were recommended to be removed from the list of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps after they were found to be using the money to buy illegal drugs, liquor and use the money in gambling.
Laguna Police Provincial Office director Col. Randy Glenn G. Silvio said among those delisted were from the towns of Liliw and Alaminos.
At least eight 4Ps beneficiaries in the province were caught in separate anti-narcotics operations.
The official said the removal from the list was based on the Department of Social Welfare and Development Memorandum Circular 038, Series of 2020.
The DSWD memorandum imposes sanctions and disciplinary measures on beneficiaries who will engage “in unlawful and prohibited acts such as gambling, use of grants for alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, and other vices.”
Under the law, the monthly education grant is P300 per child enrolled in day-care and elementary school for a maximum of 10 months a year, and P500 per child enrolled in junior high school and P700 per child enrolled in senior high school.
A compliant beneficiary also receives a P750 monthly health grant and P600 monthly rice subsidy.
“We have discovered during questioning of some of the arrested suspects that they most often use the money they receive from 4Ps to buy shabu instead of using it to help their family,” Silvio said.
