An official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on Wednesday said the agency is looking into a possible partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to help exiting household beneficiaries to access affordable housing options.

“[Nasa] exploratory [talks pa] kung paano makaka-avail yung ating mga 4Ps beneficiaries dun nga sa programa ng Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) [ng DHSUD]. Kasi sabi ko nga, kailangan din ihahanda natin ang ating mga beneficiaries bago man sila mag-exit o mag-graduate sa program na magkaroon ng sariling bahay (Exploratory talks are ongoing with the DHSUD on how 4Ps beneficiaries can avail of the 4PH program of the DHSUD. We also need to prepare our beneficiaries in having their own homes before they exit the program),” Director Gemma Gabuya, the 4Ps National Program Manager (NPM), said during the DSWD’s online program, “4Ps Fastbreak.”

She said part of the agreement during the exploratory meeting was to draft a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and a data-sharing agreement (DSA) with the DHSUD to help determine the list of 4Ps beneficiaries that have the capacity to pay for affordable housing units.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian had an initial meeting with DHSUD officials led by Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling last June 19 to discuss possible housing projects that can be accessed by exiting 4Ps households.

During the meeting, Gatchalian said housing assistance for 4Ps beneficiaries is a necessity to help with their smoother and more dignified transition towards self-sufficiency.

Launched in 2008 and institutionalized by Republic Act 11310 in 2019, the 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve their children’s health, nutrition, and education. (PNA)