Negros oriental: The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) will begin the process of validating 17,000 new beneficiaries for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Negros Oriental this month. The initiative aims to extend the benefits of the poverty reduction program to more families in the province.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marhadzda Tudtud, the DSWD-NIR 4Ps program chief, stated in an interview that the registration and validation process will commence this month. The DSWD is seeking assistance from local government and village officials to locate potential new beneficiaries. Tudtud explained that the registration process will finalize the list of 4Ps beneficiaries by assessing if they meet the program's criteria.

The 4Ps program covers up to three children under 18 years per family, provided they are enrolled in either grade school or high school. Tudtud emphasized that all individuals will be accommodated during the registration process, even if they do not yet possess a Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) card. Those unable to present a PhilSys ID will be placed on pending status until they complete all necessary requirements, such as birth certificates and other supporting documents.

Meanwhile, Ariel Fortuito, Chief Statistical Specialist of PSA-Negros Oriental, mentioned that they are prepared to accommodate up to 100 persons daily for national ID applications. Fortuito highlighted that the PSA has organized PhilSys registration in various towns and cities to facilitate more applicants.

Fortuito also pointed out that more than 92 percent of Negros Oriental's population has registered with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), leaving less than 8 percent unenrolled. He acknowledged the challenge in reaching individuals in remote areas and noted that many unenrolled individuals are young children aged 0 to 4 years, a group the PSA began registering last year.

Fortuito expressed the goal of achieving 100 percent registration for the province's population and emphasized the importance of registering newborns and young children in the PhilSys program. The capital city reported the highest number of registrants, with 158,529 individuals, or 111.51 percent, while Sibulan had the lowest, with 45,289 individuals, or 65.55 percent.