SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Department of Social Welfare Development regional office here has warned “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)” recipients against pawning their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards for cash advances.
Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo, DSWD regional director, said that they have received reports that some of these beneficiaries place their ATM cards given to them as collateral for cash advances.
The 4Ps is a government program where indigents receive P1, 500 monthly assistance placed in the Land Bank of the Philippines -ATM accounts which were given to them as augmentation for their living conditions.
Castillo said that if found out, a financial assistance suspension for certain period of time would be imposed upon the beneficiary for violation.
Those who would be violating repeatedly will be removed from the “Listahan (list)” project, starting with two pawns.
“This is to make them understand that altering the policy of the program affects his child’s needs for school in case of the cash assistance suspension,” Castillo said.
He added that they are studying recommendations to widely inform them that it is not allowed 9pawning ATM).
DSWD report showed that 4Ps beneficiaries in Region I has a total of 199,170 active households; 19,134 are from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur – 25,855, La Union – 30,258 and Pangasinan 123,923.
By Dexter A. See
