Community assemblies were held simultaneously in five provinces in Region IV-B from November to December to register and validate potential beneficiaries for the expansion of the program by 2012. Along with the expansion, five new municipalities will be covered by the program resulting to 100% coverage in the provinces of Romblon, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro in terms of covered municipalities. The new municipalities are Gasan in Marinduque, Lubang, Mamburao, and San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, and Odiongan in Romblon. Moreover, municipalities included in the previous sets will increase in the number of beneficiaries such as Araceli, Coron, Rizal, Roxas, and Sofronio Espanola in Palawan, Sta. Cruz in Marinduque, Roxas in Oriental Mindoro, and Corcuera in Romblon.
A total of 24,666 potential beneficiaries based on the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) will be assessed if they pass the eligibility check requirement of the program. Registered beneficiaries for the recently concluded community assemblies will fall under Set 5 which will start implementation by 2012.
Pantawid Pamliya provides conditional cash grants to poor households intended for the health and education needs of children 0-14 years old. Every household is entitled to a maximum of P1,400.00 worth of cash grant for 1 month depending on their compliance to the conditionalities set by the program. Not only that the program provides cash grant but more importantly, the program conducts Family Development Sessions that could help the beneficiaries have a more fruitful and more meaningful relationship among their household members. ### Vlaire Jane F. Formento
