DSWD XI says 4Ps families with working children are closely monitored
The agency says reports of child work among Pantawid beneficiaries trigger case management, home visits and referrals, as inflation raises concerns about child labor in the region.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI said it closely monitors households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) where children are working, to keep them from being drawn into forced labor, according to Mindanao Times.
Sittie Soraya M. Dataya, the program's gender and development (GAD) and children focal person, discussed the agency's approach at the Kapehan sa Dabaw forum in Davao City on Monday. Her remarks came amid concerns that rising inflation could push more minors in the Davao Region into labor.
Dataya said DSWD distinguishes between child work and child labor. When a 4Ps child is reported to be working, the agency responds with case management. Case managers speak with the parents and refer the family to partner agencies, including the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). She said work that disrupts a child's schooling is a concern under the program, and that school attendance is one of the conditions families must meet to receive 4Ps cash grants, which allows continuous monitoring.
"It will always boil down to why the child is made to work. It is because the family does not have enough for daily needs," Dataya said.
Where a family depends on a child's income, particularly when a parent is ill, Dataya said DSWD applies what it calls an "exhaustive intervention." This involves referrals to partner agencies and repeated home visits by social workers. Teachers are also asked to talk with the children, and those who have fallen behind may be enrolled in alternative learning programs to help them return to school or move up a grade level.
Based on June to July 2026 data, 4Ps covers 355,945 children aged 0 to 18 in the Davao Region. Davao del Norte has the most child beneficiaries at 72,869, followed by Davao de Oro (72,091), Davao City (69,255), Davao Oriental (67,814), Davao del Sur (41,574) and Davao Occidental (32,342).
Most beneficiaries are of school age: 217,565 are aged 6 to 14 and 126,486 are aged 15 to 18. Another 8,278 are aged 3 to 5, and 3,616 are aged 0 to 2.
As of October 2026, DSWD XI said it had released ₱2,900,793,650 in education, health and nutrition grants to 227,300 family beneficiaries across the region.
Why it matters for Davao
With 69,255 child beneficiaries in Davao City alone, the program's monitoring and school attendance rules are a key safeguard for local children as inflation strains household budgets.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Mindanao Times. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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