KORONADAL CITY — The monthly cash grants of recipients covered by conditional cash transfer will increase next year, the head of Department of Social Welfare and Development in the region said Friday, as the bulk of the agency’s approved budget for 2020 will go to the pro-poor program.

Cezario Joel Espejo, DSWD-12 chief, said from Php 500.00, the monthly health grant of a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiary will be Php 750.00 while additional Php 700.00 each for a household with a senior high school student.

The new development comes as President Duterte signed in April 27 this year Republic Act (RA) 11310 or 4Ps, a law that aims to provide financial to qualified and registered poor households.

Under the law, beneficiaries would also be given a monthly grant of not lower than P300 per child enrolled in daycare and elementary programs for a maximum of 10 months a year and P500 per child enrolled in junior high school.

Dir. Espejo said the grants intended for the increase was included in the agency’s approved Php 158.55 Billion budget.

“I thank the determination of our beneficiaries and partners in supporting the program. We can do and build better for the people,” Dir. Espejo said. (Jeoffrey Maitem / DSWD-12)