Leyte: At least 100 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in Leyte province received brand new mobile phones during the initial launch of the 'e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan' program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday. DSWD 8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Grace Subong stated that these mobile phones would enable the 4Ps beneficiaries to avail of wider services, as they can use digital platforms for transactions and receiving their cash grants.

According to Philippines News Agency, the 'e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan' is a digital literacy program of the agency for 4Ps beneficiaries, with its pilot implementation set for February 2024. The program aims to transition from using cash cards in payouts to utilizing digital transactions through e-wallets. "This is an initiative of the DSWD to ensure that all beneficiaries of 4Ps are digitally and financially literate because we are now in the stage of transitioning to electronic transactions. That is why we need to ensure that even our beneficiaries are up to date and can go with the trend," Subong emphasized.

The program also targets to educate, inform, and encourage beneficiaries to use digital applications in managing their finances. It seeks to eliminate the practice of cash card pawning and reduce the expenses incurred by beneficiaries when traveling to areas with available automated teller machines to withdraw their cash grants. The program implementation is in partnership with Globe Telecom and GCash. The selection of initial beneficiaries was based on the availability of an Internet connection in their community.