North Samar gov expects 4Ps pump priming the province economy

By TERESITA B. CARDENAS, PIA Catarman
January 28, 2011

CATARMAN, Northern Samar  –  Governor Paul R. Daza of Northern Samar has expected the money downloaded to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) beneficiaries will help the province in pump priming the economy.

In a press conference called by the governor Thursday afternoon, he said that the actual cash money about P200 million downloaded from the national government to the beneficiaries in our province will surely stimulate our economy as this is a big bulk of money given to our poor families.

As the program expanded in ten municipalities this year, 20,353 more families will benefit from the program. The towns covered by 4Ps expansion program are Biri, Capul, Gamay, Laoang, Lavezares, Rosario, San Isidro, San Jose, San Vicente and Victoria.

The first batch ten municipalities were Palapag, Silvino Lubos, San Roque, Lapinig, Catubig, Mondragon, Lope de Vega, Pambujan, Mapanas and Las Navas. The remaining 4 municipalities were not included because they were not able to qualify the poverty threshold index of the National Housing Targeting System of the DSWD national office, he added.

The governor said, we are lucky and I am very thankful to President Noy because out of the estimated 4.7 million poor families of the country only 2.3 million or 45% were identified as recipient of the said program. In Northern Samar 65% of the poor families are beneficiaries of 4Ps.

Our poor families are now given better access to education, nutrition and health and at the same time they are given increased purchasing power to procure their basic needs, he further added.

Further, more empowered women are given the chance to actively participate in activities concerning community development.