The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will launch the First 1,000 Days (F1KD) of Life cash grants on Friday (February 21) at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.
The F1KD is intended to give support to 4Ps households who have pregnant women or children 0-2 years old.
The F1KD launch, which is part of the DSWD’s 74th anniversary celebration, will highlight the ceremonial payout to some 50 pregnant women and 0-2 year-old children- beneficiaries from select areas in Quezon City; San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan; and San Mateo and Rodriguez towns in Rizal province.
The participating beneficiaries will also receive essential maternity health kits and will be able to access medical services such as prenatal and postnatal checkups, and vaccinations offered through the Department of Health’s (DOH) mobile clinic.
During the launching, a commitment signing for the implementation of the F1KD under 4Ps to be participated by the 4Ps National Advisory Council (NAC), 4Ps National Technical Working Group (NTWG), local government units (LGUs), local chief executives (LCEs), development partners, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to signify their support for the program.
It will be spearheaded by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, DOH Secretary Teodoro “Ted” J. Herbosa, who will be represented by Undersecretary Gloria Balboa, and other partner- agencies and private organizations.
The official launching of the F1KD strategy under the 4Ps is the realization of the proposed reforms during the February sectoral meeting in 2024 with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide cash grants to pregnant and lactating women, to ensure that they would seek health services to address the health needs of their children in their first 1,000 days of life.
For the pilot F1KD grantees, more than 68,000 pregnant women and children aged 0-2 years from eligible 4Ps households nationwide will receive a monthly Php350 grant.
To receive the monthly F1KD grants, beneficiaries must comply with the conditionalities of the program including accessing pre-natal services 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.
This landmark initiative under the 4Ps, which is aligned with Republic Act No. 11148, or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act,” aims to address malnutrition and stunting problems among 4Ps children by improving access to child health and nutrition services. | PIA