TARLAC CITY, Philippines (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allotted a total of P18.71 million for the implementation of its various pro-poor programs in the second congressional district of Tarlac this year.

In an interview during Tuesday’s convergence caravan in the district, DSWD regional information officer Evelyn Manalo disclosed that P5.79 million of the figure was allocated for 2,063 household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya; P10,000 for recipients of the Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K); P1.43 million for 501 grantees of the Social Pension; P2.11 million for 5,774 recipients of the Supplemental Feeding; and P9.34 million for 2,971 small scale farmer and fisher folk beneficiaries of the Cash-for-work (CFW).

The second district consists of the towns of San Jose, Gerona, and Victoria and the city of Tarlac.

Pantawid Pamilya provides a household with three qualified children a subsidy of P1,400 per month during school months (June–March) and P500 per month during non-school months (April-May) as long as they comply with certain conditions like the regular visit of children in health centers to avail themselves of immunization and maintenance of a class attendance rate of at least 85 percent per month for those who are enrolled in day care centers or schools.

The SEA-K, on the other hand, is a capability building program that seeks to enhance the skills of poor families through the organization of community-based associations for entrepreneurial development.

SEA-K group projects range from food processing (tocino, longganisa) to bag making.

Moreover, the Social Pension provides a monthly stipend of P500 to indigent senior citizens aged 77 years old and above who are not receiving any pension, without any permanent source of income and have no regular support from relatives while the Supplement Feeding gives nutritious food to day care children.

Meanwhile, CFW recipients work on identified community projects for 11 days which earn them P3,146 or P286 per day.

Among the projects beneficiaries work on include river dredging and embankment, repair of small scale irrigation, and tree planting and other reforestation activities.