MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday said it has released the guidelines for the implementation of the First 1,000 Days (F1KD) of Life conditional cash grant under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
According to DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, through the provision of the 4Ps F1KD grant to qualified beneficiaries, the department will be able to improve the health-seeking behavior of 4Ps beneficiaries and prioritize the needs of young children to prevent stunting and malnutrition.
“The DSWD has been very vocal in supporting the Marcos administration’s goal to alleviate hunger and improve the nutritional status of poor and vulnerable Filipinos,” Dumlao said.
The 4Ps F1KD cash grant is an additional financial assistance that aims to cover essential health and nutrition expenses during this critical period of a child’s life.
The guidelines are stipulated in DSWD’s Memorandum Circular No. 1 series of 2025 signed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian on January 6.
The new guidelines, Dumlao said, aim to provide monthly health grants worth PHP350 to female 4Ps beneficiaries who are pregnant, and households that have children from 0 to 2 years old.
To ensure favorable health outcomes for 4Ps mothers and their children, Dumlao said the 4Ps F1KD grants have conditionalities aligned with the implementation of Republic Act 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act and existing Department of Health (DOH) protocols.
The conditionalities include accessing pre-natal services at DOH-accredited health facilities, tracking pregnancy and receiving ante-natal care services, child birthing or delivery at a DOH-accredited health facility, attending post-natal visits, participating in counseling sessions, and obtaining micronutrient supplements and immunizations, among others.
In terms of monitoring, Dumlao said concerned health facilities will determine whether or not the target beneficiaries are compliant with the 4Ps F1KD conditions, which will be the basis for the release of the monthly cash grants.
In cases when compliance with the 4Ps F1KD conditions becomes extremely challenging or difficult for beneficiaries living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), the concerned health worker shall determine measures to ensure that needed health and nutrition interventions are provided promptly to the concerned beneficiaries.
“The beneficiaries affected by this circumstance will be deemed compliant with the 4Ps F1KD conditions,” Dumlao said.
“These beneficiaries will then be eligible to receive the F1KD cash grants,” she added.
4Ps F1KD is set to take effect this month. (PNA)