The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Tuesday said the plan to provide rice subsidies instead of cash to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries would be difficult.
In a Malacañang briefing, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian explained the possible logistics issue in terms of distributing the rice subsidy to beneficiaries.
“We always say it’s logistically hard, but we keep talking with the Department of Agriculture on how to implement this,” Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief noted that most of the 4.4 million 4Ps beneficiaries are spread across different areas in the country. Some are found in the most geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas such as mountainous locations and island provinces.
According to an agriculture department official, President Marcos is considering giving rice as a substitute for cash subsidies to 4Ps beneficiaries.
Gatchalian assured that the agency would look into the proposal and study how it would be feasible.
“One thing for sure (is) we are studying (this)… We’re not giving up on that, so we can also help our producers who are farmers,” the DSWD chief said.
“But secondly, just like what the President always says, we should not make things difficult for our countrymen to receive help,” Gatchalian added.