What is Targeted Cash Transfer (TCT) Program?

The government of the Philippines committed to provide financial assistance to the poorest households in the country through the DSWD TCT Program, which is aimed at mitigating the effects if inflation, rising fuel prices and commodities. Under the program, the DSWD will provide cash grants to the poorest households for six(6) months.

The program is modeled after the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) program, which was implemented under the TRAIN Law. The DSWD will serve as the lead agency overseeing the program’s implementation.

As such, the following guideline will help ensure that:

  1. The 12.4 million households to receive the cash transfer are identified;

  2. Payroll and institutional arrangements are prepared; and

  3. Schemes are adopted that will expedite the distribution of cash transfer to beneficiaries.

Benefits

The program offers a direct cash benefit per month for six (6) months for the poorest households.

  • The program will provide cash grants of up to P3,000.00 (or P500 per month) to eligible beneficiaries every six months. These grants are intended to help the poorest households in the country. The distribution of these funds is subject to the availability of funds.

  • Augment the eligible beneficiaries’ disposable income, which is expected to improve their capacity to meet their basic needs;

  • Easy cash distribution scheme through the Landbank of the Philippines

Coverage and Qualifications

  • Some 4.0 million identified beneficiaries under Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps);

  • Some 6.0 million identified non-4Ps households who were previously beneficiaries under the 2018 to 2020 UCT program stipulated under RA 10963 or the TRAIN Law, including beneficiaries of the Social Pension Program; and

  • Some 2.4 million households in the database of the Listahan or National Household Targeting system for Poverty Reduction (NTHS-PR) or other data sources as applicable, provided that they will fall within the first to fifth income decile of the NHT-PR.

How to Process DSWD Targeted Cash Transfer (TCT)

  1. Beneficiaries identified by the DSWD shall receive payments amounting to P500 per month for six (6) months (except for the months of April-July), in an appropriate manner, as determine by the DSWD, subject to the availability of funds.

  2. Residents of outlying regions, such as those in disadvantaged and isolated communities, may receive payments in two equal installments for the entire program’s six-month duplication from other databases. These payments are subject to the approval of the Secretary.

  3. The schedule of distribution of the Targeted Cash Transfer (TCT) program is set by the Inter-Agency Committee. In the event that the availability of funds prevents he program from being delivered on time, the IAC may make changes to the schedule.

  4. The cash grants should be distributed to the beneficiaries through the LBP cash card or their preferred transactional accounts within the second week or month following the TCT payroll period. This circular applies to the cash grants issued under this program. However, due to the system capacity of the LBP, the availability of funds may be subject to change.

  5. The list of TCT beneficiaries that the DSWD has certified should be forwarded to the LBP. Once the LBP receives the list, it will immediately start distributing the cash grants.

Validation Process

DSWD offices’ list of eligible applicants will undergo a validation process. This process will involve the deduplication of 2 checks and eligibility verification.

The appointed offices will perform the eligibility check and certify the application. On the other hand, the deduplication check will be conducted by the UCT-NPMO for select beneficiaries as provided by the official memorandum and the rest by the NHTO. These offices will also seek technical assistance from he ICTMS.