The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas (DSWD-8) is stepping up the conduct of family development session (FDS) for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) through the distribution of FDS kits to around 500 municipal and city links in Eastern Visayas.

The DSWD regional office said in a statement Friday the distribution of kits is part of the agency’s innovation to strengthen social protection programs and support frontline workers in delivering services to families and communities in Eastern Visayas.

The kits distributed in six provinces in the region from Dec. 26 to 27, 2025, contain materials necessary for the conduct of FDS, including Manila paper, bond paper, meta cards, coloring materials, pens and board markers.

“The kits are expected to support municipal and city links in delivering more structured, engaging, and high-quality FDS, which serve as a key platform for promoting responsible parenthood, child welfare, health, nutrition, and other social development topics among 4Ps households,” the DSWD said.

The FDS is a mandatory monthly meeting for 4Ps beneficiaries to build life skills, improve parenting and foster community involvement.

Families meet monthly for interactive learning sessions. Regular attendance and participation are tracked for cash grant eligibility.

Launched in 2008 and institutionalized in 2019 through Republic Act 11310, 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program of the Philippine government, providing conditional cash transfers to poor households for a maximum period of seven years, to improve the health, nutrition and education aspects of their children. (PNA)