On February 21, 2025, approximately 6,906 households enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) received their First 1,000 Days (F1KD) cash grants.
The F1KD intends to provide support to 4Ps households that have pregnant women or children 24 months and below and to address significant gaps in maternal and child health, like inadequate prenatal care and nutritional deficiencies, which can lead to stunted growth and developmental delays in children.
For the pilot payout of the FIKD covering the months of January and February, 3,987 households in Cebu and 1,790 eligible households in Bohol received their cash grant. For the province of Negros Oriental, 1,038 households received their FIKD cash grant, while Siquijor has 91 households.
Each eligible beneficiary within the household received a cash grant of Php 350 per month.
“For the first two (2) months, 4Ps waived the conditionalities under FIKD. In the succeeding months, our 4Ps city and municipal links will strictly monitor its compliance in coordination with the local health personnel,” said DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero.
Director Lucero added that the 4Ps pregnant women will be monitored for their compliance, including pre-natal services accessing at DOH-accredited health facilities, tracking pregnancy and receiving ante-natal care services, child birthing or delivery at a DOH-accredited health facility, attending post-natal visits, participating in counseling sessions, and obtaining micronutrient supplements and immunizations.
“The number of 4Ps households might increase in the succeeding months depending on their updating of household profile. So we are still encouraging our active 4Ps partner beneficiaries with pregnant members or children aged 24 months and below to update their household profiles by visiting their 4Ps City and Municipal Links or using the i-Registro, which is a digital and self-service platform,” underscored Director Lucero.
To reach more 4Ps partner beneficiaries in the implementation of the FIKD cash grant, DSWD personnel posted FIKD flyers in conspicuous areas like bulletin boards in the city and municipal halls. The FIKD flyer contains frequently answered questions about the 4Ps initiative.
Besides posting the FIKD flyers, DSWD personnel also distributed and oriented partner stakeholders like local chief executive executives, local social welfare and development officers, and local health workers.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Central Office officially launched the F1KD on February 21, 2025, which also highlighted the ceremonial payout to some 50 pregnant women and children-beneficiaries from select areas in Quezon City; San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan; and San Mateo and Rodriguez towns in Rizal province.
“Nakatabang gyud kini aron pagpuno pagpalit sa diaper ug sa ilang pagkaon sama cereal ug gatas labi na kung matungnan nga wala pay sweldo akong bana magamit gyud kini dayun (It helped a lot in purchasing their diapers and food like cereal and milk especially if my husband has not received yet his salary, the cash grant will be readily used as an augmentation),” said Michelle Apale, 36 years old, a 4Ps beneficiary from Brgy. Basak, Mandaue City, Cebu.
The official launch of the F1KD strategy under the 4Ps is a realization of the proposed reforms discussed during the sectoral meeting in February 2024 with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. This initiative aims to provide cash grants to pregnant and lactating women, encouraging them to seek health services that address the needs of their children in the crucial first 1,000 days of life.
This important initiative under the 4Ps, Republic Act No. 11148, known as the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, aims to combat malnutrition and stunting among 4Ps children by enhancing their access to child health and nutrition services. ###
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