The Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) assessed the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the region during its 1st Quarter Meeting for the year held on March 13, 2014 at the NEDA 2 Pamegafanan Hall, NEDA 2-RDC 2 Building, Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City.

The RPMC commended the 4Ps of the government, led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), dubbing the program as a ‘challenging project’ wherein exhaustive activities and immense efforts are evidently seen from the management for its successful implementation.

To further improve the execution of the program, the committee suggested intensified identification and monitoring tools in order to ensure proper identification of the beneficiaries and assure that the benefits are directly gained by the poor households.

In addition, the body also suggested increasing the awareness of the beneficiaries on right budgeting, spending and other financial matters for better holding of their financial assistance.

Meanwhile, Mr. Augustus Narag of the DSWD Region 02 said that the agency has been strengthening its ties with the media to help them inform the public about the 4Ps program. Furthermore, he said, “there is a grievance suggestion system and the conduct of regular meetings of the municipal action committee to check any “inclusion error” in the list of benefits.”

DSWD FO 2-4Ps Regional Coordinator Ms. Maricel Gomez ensured that they are also continuously forging municipal links for the improvement of the program and are collaborating with the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in monitoring the “areas of engagement.”

RPMC Chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 2 OIC-Regional Director MaryAnne E.R. Darauay said that to further realize the poverty reduction goal of the 4Ps, a study on the impact of the program in the region must be undertaken, as well as the reinforcement of the beneficiary identification. To undertake this impact study, she suggested the deliberate tying up with the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) among other stakeholders to generate more accurate feedback on field.