Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Tuesday that qualified beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have started receiving the increased First 1,000 Days (F1KD) cash grant. This enhancement is part of the expanded benefit package under Memorandum Circular No. 10, series of 2026.
According to Philippines News Agency, the expanded package raises the monthly F1KD cash grant from PHP350 to PHP750 for eligible 4Ps family members. This increase aims to provide more robust support for maternal and child health and nutrition during the critical first 1,000 days of life. The initial rollout, which started on July 9, includes 5,536 newly qualified F1KD beneficiaries who are receiving the higher cash grant for the first time under this expanded package.
Existing F1KD beneficiaries, who were already receiving the grant, will begin to receive the increased amount starting Pay Period 3 (May-June 2026), following the implementation schedule outlined in Memorandum Circular No. 10, series of 2026. The DSWD anticipates that more than 180,000 qualified beneficiaries will benefit from this increase nationwide by the end of the year.
Beneficiaries will receive the enhanced monthly grant through their Land Bank of the Philippines cash cards or registered e-wallet accounts. The F1KD cash grant serves as additional financial assistance for qualified 4Ps households to address the health and nutrition needs of pregnant women and young children during their first 1,000 days, a critical period for a child's physical growth and brain development.
Lawyer Mary Rose Oquindo-Pasibi, the 4Ps national program manager, emphasized the government's commitment to investing in the health of Filipino families. "By increasing the F1KD Cash Grant, we are strengthening our investment in the health and nutrition of pregnant women and young children. This reflects the government's commitment to ensuring that every Filipino child has the best possible start in life," Oquindo-Pasibi stated.
The DSWD noted that the increase was approved after determining that the previous grant amount was inadequate to cover the rising costs of essential needs such as food, medicines, vitamins, and transportation for pregnant women and young children. To maintain eligibility, beneficiaries must continue complying with F1KD conditions, which include regular prenatal and postnatal checkups, facility-based delivery with skilled health professionals, regular child health consultations, and age-appropriate immunizations for children aged 0 to 24 months.
Oquindo-Pasibi urged active 4Ps households with eligible members to update their family information by submitting the Beneficiary Updating System (BUS) Form 5 to their assigned City or Municipal Link or through the I-Registro online self-service platform. Required supporting documents include birth certificates for children aged 0 to 24 months or medical certificates for pregnant members.
Under the existing Beneficiary Data Management System policies, a Certificate of Live Birth may replace a birth certificate, while a Health Certificate from a Rural Health Unit or Barangay Health Station may substitute for a medical certificate. The F1KD strategy strengthens the health and nutrition component of the 4Ps by supporting healthy pregnancies and promoting proper nutrition during early childhood. This approach helps prevent stunting, malnutrition, and other nutrition-related health concerns during the first 1,000 days of life.
Implemented under Republic Act 11310, or the 4Ps Act, the program continues to invest in the health, education, and overall development of poor and vulnerable Filipino families through responsive and evidence-based social protection interventions.
