THE Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VI (DSWD6) is releasing more than P470.5 million for its 313,133 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

The bulk of the amount will be released in Negros Occidental with more than P179 million for its 122,343 beneficiaries. Iloilo has 136.5 million; Capiz with P57.2 million; Antique with P42.9 million; Aklan with P42.5 million and Guimaras with P12.2 million.

DSWD6 Assistant Regional Director Joel P. Galicia said the amount covers the cash grants of beneficiaries for Period 3 or the months of May and June 2014.

“Compliance to conditions of Pantawid Pamilya is still the basis for a household-beneficiary to avail of the cash grants,” Galicia stressed.

Pantawid Pamilya is the national government’s poverty alleviation program that provides cash assistance to poor households to ensure that their children attend school and the family members avail of health services.

The program covers a maximum of three children per household, aged 18 years old and below. Eligible households receive P500 health grant monthly. For education, enrolled children aged 3-14 years old receive P300 during school months. While those attending high school, or 15 to 18 years old, receive P500 per school month.

Galicia said the DSWD has partnered with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), rural banks, and most recently, with SMART National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) to oversee the distribution of the cash grants to beneficiaries until the second week of September 2014. (DSWD6/ Alma Jornadal-Estember)