The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the creation of over 4,000 contractual positions for the different field offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure the effective implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

These contractual positions will augment DSWD’s staff from its field offices who are already involved in 4Ps case management.

“Supporting the 4Ps is crucial in inclusive development, empowering families, and breaking the cycle of poverty in the Philippines. With this move, we are also generating employment opportunities, which in some ways help stabilize our economy,” Budget Secretary Mina Pangandaman said, as quoted in a DBM news release Monday.

The 4,265 Project Development Officer II contractual positions will augment the existing staff of the DSWD to a caseload of one case manager for every 300 households.

Case managers play an important role in the successful implementation of the 4Ps at the grassroots level since they directly interact with beneficiaries, a core function of DSWD in executing the 4Ps program.

As of August 2023, the implementation of the 4Ps has covered a total of 3,976,653 household beneficiaries across 41,676 barangays in the entire country or 90.38 percent of the 4.4 million target households, based on DSWD’s Fiscal Year 2023 report.

Previously, the DBM authorized the creation of 12,637 contractual positions that were occupied by the COS/JO workers engaged in implementing the 4Ps.

Out of the approved contractual positions, 5,291 contractual positions served as case managers in the pursuit of the 4Ps.

Funds for the creation of said 4,265 PDO II contractual positions will be charged against the available allotment of the DSWD, according to the DBM. (PNA)