The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office 9 has revealed that 2,219 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P) members in region 9 are involved in cash card pawning.
Fung Kay Choi, DSWD 9, Information Officer for 4P told RPN DXXX Zamboanga, for the region, from January to December 2020 there were 2,219 registered members who pawned their cash card of which 396 are from Zamboanga City.
For Zamboanga City, areas prominent for cash card pawning includes barangays Labuan and Recodo. 49 cases were registered for Labuan and 43 for Recodo.
During investigation the most common reasons for cash card pawning were medical and financial emergencies.
Sanctions for cash card pawning includes: for first offense warning and counselling, second offense warning from the DSWD Regional Director and two months suspension of grant, and third offense delisting.
For those lending institutions and private individuals offering lending services using the cash card of the beneficiaries as collateral fine and imprisonment awaits them.
The Regional Advisory Committee have already decided through a resolution penalizing lending investors licensed and unlicensed, and private individuals in cash card pawning of the beneficiaries. This will be implemented by April.
“Si cuhi came tali el cash card con ustedes you will be penalized,” Choi said.
In the 4P’s program, the beneficiaries will enjoy P750 for health, P300 per daycare/grade school child, P500 for junior high, and P700 for senior high and P600 rice subsidy. Payout is given every two months.
However, these beneficiaries will have to comply several conditions such as they must have themselves check at the center to include children must have complete immunization and pregnant women who are members must have complete prenatal check-up, at least 85% attendance in school, and attendance to the family development sessions being given by the DSWD. Â (R.G. Antonet A. Go)
