The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has announced that about 80,000 pregnant and lactating women enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will start receiving an additional P350 monthly cash aid this month to support their prenatal and postnatal needs.
The program, called “The First 1,000 Days,” will provide the incentive from the start of pregnancy until a child turns two, spanning a total of 1,000 days. This amount is on top of the regular cash grants given under the 4Ps, but only for a limited time, according to DSWD Director Gemma Gabuya.
The initial disbursement, covering January and February, will be released by the end of the month and into early February. Subsequent payments will be distributed every two months through the beneficiaries’ ATM accounts to ensure transparency and prevent political interference.
The initiative aims to address stunting and malnutrition among underprivileged Filipino children by providing additional support during the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life, which is considered a crucial period for proper nutrition and development.
DSWD data shows that around 80,000 mothers qualify for the program, including 20,000 who are currently pregnant. While the program also covers teenage mothers, Gabuya emphasized that the incentive should not encourage pregnancies and is intended solely to supplement health-related expenses.
Initially proposed at P400, the incentive was reduced to P350 based on revised calculations by the National Economic and Development Authority.
