IPs, too, get cash grant amid COVID-19 threat

By Jennifer P. Rendon

No one is left behind.

Yes, even those in the minority group received cash grants from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Recently, DSWD – Region 6 has announced that they have released cash grants to Indigenous Peoples beneficiaries in the provinces of Aklan, Negros Occidental, and Antique.

The Conditional Cash Transfer Program, more commonly known as Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), covers IP beneficiaries.

It is implemented by DSWD based on the guidelines for Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Indigenous Peoples (MCCT-IP).

The program is driven by its three main goals; to empower, to promote, and to protect IPs from any unavoidable adverse effects caused by the development process in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).

On March 29, the agency completed the cash grant transfer last March 29 to a total of 1,467 IP rural beneficiaries. The grant from government is intended to alleviate them from a state of poverty.

In Madalag town, Aklan, MCCT-IP beneficiaries) from six IP communities had to brave being under the scorching heat of the sun and had to walk from their respective homes (due to the banning of motorcycle backriders) going to the town proper to get their cash grants.

They were the last batch to complete the 291 beneficiaries totally served with the four-day payout scheme conducted by the six-man DSWD Pantawid Pamilya team.

Around 112 beneficiaries from Barangay Panipiason, the farthest barangay among the 26 villages of Madalag, had to walk more than three hours going to Mamba village where a service truck which was provided by the Madalag local government unit.