Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday clarified that beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) program will not be disqualified even if they are not yet vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The 4Ps, under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is a human development measure of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor and to improve the health, nutrition, and education of children.

“For those who have already qualified under the 4Ps, they become legally entitled to the conditional cash transfer benefits, provided they continue to comply with all the conditions under the law,” Guevarra told the media through text message. “The cash transfer is, therefore, a transaction between the government, through the DSWD, and the qualified household beneficiary.”

Guevarra reminded that under Republic Act 11525, or the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act, the vaccine card shall not be considered an additional mandatory requirement for educational, employment, and other similar government transactions.

“Hence, non-vaccination against Covid-19 cannot be a ground for suspension or termination of conditional cash transfer benefits if the beneficiary household has already qualified, and continues to qualify, under 4Ps,” he explained.

A DSWD official in the Davao Region, information officer Kristel Cagatin, previously said in a radio interview that 4Ps beneficiaries will receive their financial aid in full regardless of their vaccination status.

“All bases of them being the beneficiary are written in the terms and conditions when they enter the program,” she said. “Being unvaccinated is not part of the conditions”. (PNA)