The swift approval by the Department of Budget Management (DBM) of the request made by the Department of Social Welfare and Department (DSWD) for 4,200 new contractual positions for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will substantially boost the implementation of the government’s national poverty reduction strategy that caters to 4.4 million household beneficiaries nationwide.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the DBM, headed by Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, for the creation of these new contractual positions that will further enhance the delivery of services under 4Ps,” Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao said in a statement on Tuesday.

“These contractual items will substantially alleviate the caseload burden on our dedicated front-line workers, allowing them to focus more on the individual needs of 4Ps beneficiaries, as well as enhancing the quality and efficiency of our case management.”

Dumlao said the creation of 4,200 Project Development Officer (PDO) II items is part of the DSWD’s commitment, under Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s leadership, to reduce the workloads of the 4Ps workforce on the grounds, specifically the Provincial and Municipal Links (P/ML).

She said the initiative would also provide security of tenure to the agency’s workforce, who are mostly engaged with the DSWD through a cost-of-service agreement, or job order employment status.

“We firmly believe that investing in the 4Ps workforce will aid the DSWD in uplifting families out of poverty. We commend the DBM for recognizing the importance of this initiative and for their commitment to supporting our efforts in protecting our personnel, and in serving the poor Filipino people, as a whole,” Dumlao said. (PNA)