Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) household beneficiaries in Antique are encouraged to avail of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination.

Jeffrey Gabucay, 4Ps provincial link in Antique, said on Wednesday household members who are 18 years old and above may avail of the inoculation in their respective municipalities.

“We have received a memorandum sent by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) officer-in-charge on Social Marketing Irene Dumlao encouraging our qualified 4Ps beneficiaries to avail the Covid-19 vaccination,” he said.

Some 58,160 individuals from the 28,753 household beneficiaries in Antique are 18 years old and above.

“We have 4Ps household beneficiaries whose members are working as Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) or seniors and with comorbidities whom we are encouraging to have themselves already vaccinated since they belong to the priority groups,” he added.

Meanwhile, Gabucay said they will no longer hold graduation ceremonies for exiting 4Ps members as a precautionary measure due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

They were only able to hold ceremonies in the towns of Anini-y, Caluya, and Libertad, he added.

He said 32 household beneficiaries from Anini-y, 28 from Caluya, and 17 from Libertad have officially exited from the program.

“The graduates are those households that have no more monitored zero to 18-years-old children who are availing the cash grant for their education and health needs from the 4Ps,” he said.

The graduation ceremonies for the 15 municipalities will be held in October if the Covid-19 situation will improve. (PNA)