Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P's)

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)

is a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of children aged 0-14.

4Ps has dual objectives:

• Social Assistance - to provide cash assistance to the poor to alleviate their immediate need (short term poverty alleviation); and
• Social Development - to break the inter-generational poverty cycle through investments in human capital.

4Ps helps to fulfill the country’s commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals, namely:

1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health

Targeting System
The poorest households in the municipalities are selected through a Proxy-Means Test. This test determines the socio-economic category of the families by looking at certain proxy variables such as ownership of assets, type of housing, education of the household head, livelihood of the family and access to water and sanitation facilities.
Eligible Households

1. Residents of the poorest municipalities based on 2003 Small Area Estimates (SAE) of NSCB;
2. Households whose economic condition is equal to or below the provincial poverty threshold.
3. Households that have children 0-14 years old and/or have a pregnant woman at the time of assessment;
4. Households that agree to meet conditions specified in the program.

Set of Co-Responsibilities
To avail of the cash grants beneficiaries should comply with the following conditions:

1. Pregnant women must avail pre- and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by a trained health professional;
2. Parents must attend responsible parenthood sessions, mother’s classes and parent effectiveness seminars;
3. 0-5 year old children must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines;
4. 3-5 year old children must attend day care or pre-school classes at least 85% of the time.
5. 6-14 year old children must enroll in elementary or high school and must attend at least 85% of the time.
6. 6-14 years old children must receive deworming pills twice a year.

Program Coverage
4Ps operates in 45 provinces covering 255 municipalities and 15 key cities.
At present, 700,000 households are enrolled in the program and are receiving cash grants.
Program Cycle

The implementation of 4Ps Program follows the 8-step cycle starting from the 1) selection of target areas, 2) supply side assessment, 3) selection of household beneficiaries, 4) registration and validation of beneficiaries, 5) Family Registry preparation, 6) initial payment, 7) verification of compliance and 8) 2nd and succeeding release of cash grants.

 
Program Package
4Ps provides cash grants to the beneficiaries to wit:

• P6,000 a year or P500 per month per household for health and nutrition expenses; and

• P3000 for one school year or 10 months or P300/month per child for educational expenses. A maximum of three children per household is allowed.

A household with three qualified children receives a subsidy of P1,400/month during the school year or P15,000 annually as long as they comply with the conditionalities. The cash grants shall be received by the most responsible person in the household, usually the mother, through a Land Bank cash card.
In cases where payment through cash card is not feasible, the beneficiaries shall be provided their cash grants through an alternative payment scheme such as over-the-counter transactions from the nearest Landbank branch or offsite payments through Landbank.

Other Readings:

• Angeles City Population Growth Rate
• Apagmaragul mu bang Kapampangan ka?
• Bakit ganito sa Pilipinas?
• Barangay Cutcut Health and Household Statistics
• History of Angeles City
• History of Barangay Cutcut
• How to Hack Globe Tatto?
• Mission and Vision
• Population of Barangay Cutcut
• Profile of Angeles City
• What is Barangay?
• What is Sangguniang Kabataan?
• Which do you prefer; Cutcut Cemetery or Holy Mary Memorial Park?
• Why do they call it Fields Avenue?

What is good governance?

Recently the terms “governance” and “good governance” are being increasingly used in development literature. Bad governance is being increasingly regarded as one of the root causes of all evil within our societies. Major donors and international financial institutions are increasingly basing their aid and loans on the condition that reforms that ensure “good governance” are undertaken.

This article tries to explain, as simply as possible, what “governance” and “good governance” means.

GOVERNANCE

The concept of “governance” is not new. It is as old as human civilization. Simply put “governance” means: the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented). Governance can be used in several contexts such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local governance.

Since governance is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented, an analysis of governance focuses on the formal and informal actors involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions made and the formal and informal structures that have been set in place to arrive at and implement the decision.

Government is one of the actors in governance. Other actors involved in governance vary depending on the level of government that is under discussion. In rural areas, for example, other actors may include influential land lords, associations of peasant farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, research institutes, religious leaders, finance institutions political parties, the military etc. The situation in urban areas is much more complex. Figure 1 provides the interconnections between actors involved in urban governance. At the national level, in addition to the above actors, media, lobbyists, international donors, multi-national corporations, etc. may play a role in decision-making or in influencing the decision-making process.

All actors other than government and the military are grouped together as part of the “civil society.” In some countries in addition to the civil society, organized crime syndicates also influence decision-making, particularly in urban areas and at the national level.

Similarly formal government structures are one means by which decisions are arrived at and implemented. At the national level, informal decision-making structures, such as “kitchen cabinets” or informal advisors may exist. In urban areas, organized crime syndicates such as the “land Mafia” may influence decision-making. In some rural areas locally powerful families may make or influence decision-making. Such, informal decision-making is often the result of corrupt practices or leads to corrupt practices.

GOOD GOVERNANCE

Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society.

• Participation 
• Participation by both men and women is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives. It is important to point out that representative democracy does not necessarily mean that the concerns of the most vulnerable in society would be taken into consideration in decision making. Participation needs to be informed and organized. This means freedom of association and expression on the one hand and an organized civil society on the other hand.
• Rule of law
• Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force.
• Transparency
• Transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations. It also means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement. It also means that enough information is provided and that it is provided in easily understandable forms and media.
• Responsiveness
• Good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.
• Consensus oriented
• There are several actors and as many view points in a given society. Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in society to reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole community and how this can be achieved. It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for sustainable human development and how to achieve the goals of such development. This can only result from an understanding of the historical, cultural and social contexts of a given society or community.
• Equity and inclusiveness
• A society’s well being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it and do not feel excluded from the mainstream of society. This requires all groups, but particularly the most vulnerable, have opportunities to improve or maintain their well being.
• Effectiveness and efficiency
• Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making the best use of resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.
• Accountability
• Accountability is a key requirement of good governance. Not only governmental institutions but also the private sector and civil society organizations must be accountable to the public and to their institutional stakeholders. Who is accountable to whom varies depending on whether decisions or actions taken are internal or external to an organization or institution. In general an organization or an institution is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or actions. Accountability cannot be enforced without transparency and the rule of law.

CONCLUSION

From the above discussion it should be clear that good governance is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in its totality. Very few countries and societies have come close to achieving good governance in its totality. However, to ensure sustainable human development, actions must be taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality.

Which do you prefer, Cutcut Cemetery or Holy Mary Memorial Park?

There is exclusiveness even in death.  It has been shared that in the Philippines, there are two types of people; rich and poor, rich people do not want to be with the poor ones.

Rev. Gaudario was talking to a lady about one of her family members had been recently buried.  He asked where they buried the wake. She told him Holy Mary Memorial Park, which is an exclusive cemetery for the rich folks.  It is located at Cutcut, Angeles City.  So, priest said "Oh Yes,  I know where that it is in Cutcut."  She got a little testy, because there is also another cemetery for the poor folks, commonly known as Cutcut Cemetery. She replied "No! Holy Mary." He may have again tried to clarify by saying "Yes in Barangay Cutcut." but she would not be caught dead (argh) burying a relative there, so she said "No. Holy Mary!"

No matter where a wake would it be buried whether in a “museleo” or in a simple apartment, what important is his/her final destination; heaven or hell.

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (NIV) Hebrew 9:27

The more important question is not where your body will be buried, but where will your soul spend eternity?

Mission and Vision

A reposeful landscape in a new found leadership

The cardinal reason for building a new community has something to do, in fact, with the characteristic of our age; the fundamental needs of the constituency; especially the poor. this is a necessity over which the might of government can be of no avail, for the poor, and marginalized are in many ways, the people for which government exist. The deficiencies of the past are primarily brought about by mis- education. therefore; with a new thrust of education in combining work, study and social involvement, the management of a reposeful community begins, in this crucial times, with the government, but it ends with the people. Introduce therefore reforms in an effort to correct the past deficiencies and broaden the base of participation by the population in the development process. Initiate economic reform that will contribute to create an environment more conducive to sustained economic growth.

RESOLUTION No. 25 Series of 2011

RESOLUTION AMENDING BARANGAY ORDINANCE NO. 20 SERIES OF 2006 AS AMENDED BY BARANGAY ORDINANCE NO. 31 SERIES OF 2011.

WHEREAS, this august body has enacted Ordinance No. 31 further amending Ordinance No. 20 series of 2006 as emended;

WHEREAS, the Honorable Barangay Captain has returned the said legislative measure with the suggestion that it be further amended Section 7 of Barangay Ordinance No. 20, series of 2006 as amended by the Barangay Ordinance No. 31, series of 2011 particularly on Section 7 thereof is hereby further amended;

WHEREAS, this ordinance shall take effect 30 days after its approval.

NOW THEREFORE, on motion Barangay Kagawad ROY DANTE OGURIDA, duly seconded by Barangay Kagawad EMERENCIANA L. SIGUA, a resolution amending Barangay Ordinance No. 20, Series of 2006 as amended by Barangay Ordinance No. 31, Series of 2011 is hereby approved.

APPROVED in regular session assembled by Cutcut Barangay Council held on July 05, 2011 at the Cutcut Barangay Hall, Angeles City.

RESOLUTION No. 24 Series of 2011

On joint- motion of the proponent,  Kagawad EMERENCIANA L. SIGUA, chairman of the Committee on Education and Kagawad ROY DANTE OGURIDA, chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, duly seconded;

RESOLUTION CREATING THE BARANGAY CUTCUT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, this resolution aims to provide financial assistance to poor but deserving students who
want to pursue secondary education at any public school.

WHEREAS, One hundred (100) scholars/grantees shall be accommodated per school year

WHEREAS, the CUTCUT BARANGAY COUNCIL shall incorporate in the annual budget the funds to cover the implementation of this program.

WHEREAS, this program shall take effect beginning school year 2012-2013.

NOW THEREFORE, on motion Barangay Kagawad EMERENCIANA L. SIGUA, duly seconded by Barangay Kagawad ROY DANTE OGURIDA, a resolution creating the Barangay Cutcut Scholarship Program hereby unanimously approved.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED in regular session assembled by Cutcut Barangay Council held on July 05, 2011 at the Cutcut Barangay Hall, Angeles City.

RESOLUTION No. 21 Series of 2011

Resolution implementing Barangay ID System which will be the file maintenance system of the barangay to be used in keeping their records. The Barangay ID System will also be a census-like system of each resident of the barangay for each resident will now have an identification number containing their personal records. This is also based on the Memorandum Circular No. 2008-144 of the DILG issued last September 19, 2008.

WHEREAS, under the Local Government Code, barangays can compel all barangay residents within their jurisdiction to register.

WHEREAS, barangay residents shall have the option to apply for an ID card.

WHEREAS, a unique reference number (URN) will be assigned to each agency program member or registered barangay resident.

WHEREAS, Barangay Identification system will reduce the hard time procedure of accessing files and records they keep and store. The system will also be the census like system of the barangay for all of its constituents and new people who will live in the place. The system will be effective in maintaining, searching and storing of records of all resident in the barangay.

WHEREAS, The Barangay Identification system also benefits its residence for they will be accommodated easily for they will have an identification that can be used to access their accounts if there are some changes to be done in their part. It will also be easy for them in requesting some information and services because the barangay had already have it. This will also assure the residents that their information is properly secured and maintain through the manipulation of the proposed system.

NOW THEREFORE, on motion Barangay Kagawad ROY DANTE OGURIDA duly seconded by Barangay Kagawad JUANITO D. DAYRIT a resolution implementing Barangay ID System which will be the file maintenance system of the barangay to be used in keeping their records. The Barangay ID System will also be a census-like system of each resident of the barangay for each and every resident will now have an identification number containing their personal records hereby unanimously approved.    

RESOLVED, that this Resolution once approved and executed shall be valid and effective after fifteen days.

RESOLVED FINALLY, that copies of this resolution be furnished the office of the Punong Barangay, all
barangay outpost and all government agencies concerned.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED in regular session assembled by Cutcut Barangay Council held on June 07, 2011 at the Cutcut Barangay Hall, Angeles City.