After almost three (3) years of conducting the electronic Family Development Session (eFDS), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII will resume the face-to-face approach in 2023.

Cebu Provincial Link Brigieda Goron, together with the Municipal Link in Pilar, Cebu, discusses the social preparation topic with the 4Ps partner-beneficiaries.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the DSWD looked for alternative ways in delivering the different FDS modules to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) partner-beneficiaries such as text messages, social media posts through the DSWD Region VII Facebook page, FDS On-the-Air through partner television and radio stations, and printed materials delivered to their respective homes.

As the face-to-face FDS resumes this year, the priority topics will seek to lay the foundations of the program for both existing and new 4Ps beneficiaries. It will focus on the FDS Transformative Learning Path (FDSTLP), which will emphasize the positive behavioral changes expected from the 4Ps beneficiaries through the three (3) needs-based learning packages.

The three (3) learning packages include the titles: 1. “Pagbabago sa pamamahala ng buhay ng pamilya,”  2. “Pakikipag-ugnayan sa istrukturang panlipunan,”  and 3. “Pangkabuhayan at organisasyon.”

The topics will deal with learning or relearning the basics of the program based on Republic Act 11310 provisions, with emphasis on their commitments to follow program conditions and their goals to improve their well-being within the seven-year operational timeline.

FDS is one of the program conditions that gathers partner-beneficiaries once a month to discuss various development topics.

It aims to enhance and acquire new skills and knowledge of 4Ps partner-beneficiaries in responding to their parental roles and responsibilities, particularly on the health and nutrition, education, protection, and psychosocial needs of children; promote positive family values; strengthen marital relationships; and active citizenship for community empowerment, among others.

Other program conditions are enrollment and attendance of children aged 3–18 years old in school, deworming at least twice a year for children aged 1–14 years old, prenatal and postnatal check-ups for women, and preventive check-ups for children aged 5 and below.

Based on the law, households may receive Php 750.00 for compliance with health and FDS; children monitored by the program in elementary school will receive Php 300.00, while those in junior high school receive Php 500.00, and Php 700.00 for children in senior high school.

The cash grants are computed on a monthly basis. The education grants cover only 10 months per school year, benefiting a maximum of three children per household. Each compliant household also receives a rice subsidy of Php 600 per month.

The 4Ps is the government’s major poverty alleviation program that invests in the health, nutrition, and education of poor, eligible households. These, along with the psychosocial and educational components provided through the FDS, lead the beneficiaries to have improved and sustained well-being. ###

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