The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is responding to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) to amend certain provisions of Republic Act 11310, the law that institutionalized the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
During the Post-SONA Discussions Session 3: Health and Social Welfare Protection held on Tuesday in San Juan City, Secretary Rex Gatchalian explained that RA 11310 stipulates that beneficiaries of the 4Ps can remain in the program for a maximum of seven years. However, he noted that factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and rising commodity prices due to inflation have significantly diminished the purchasing power of 4Ps beneficiaries, hindering their ability to adapt to economic challenges.
“Kung dati-rati dapat naka-graduate na sila, ngayon hindi pa sila puwede grumaduate kasi kulang pa iyong panahon para talagang maiahon nila iyong kanilang mga sarili sa kahirapan,” Gatchalian stated. (They should have graduated by now, but they need more time to truly lift themselves out of poverty.)
He highlighted that next year, nearly two million families may be forced to exit the program despite not having improved their living conditions due to the provisions of the law. “Pero, dahil sa panawagan ng ating Pangulo, hindi na nila kailangan mangamba dahil aamyendahan iyong batas sa tulong ng Kongreso at ng Senado para iyong mga hindi pa ready umalis sa programa, manatili muna,” he added. (But because of the call of our President, they don’t have to worry because the law will be amended with the help of the House of Representatives and the Senate so that those who are not yet ready to leave the program can stay.)
Gatchalian reiterated that the seven-year limit should not dictate beneficiaries’ exit from the program; rather, it should be based on their actual living conditions. “Sa ating Pangulo, yung kanyang mungkahi o yung kanyang statement na amyendahan ang batas, ay kinikilala ang bawat pamilya ng 4Ps na may sariling kwento,” he said. (For our President, his suggestion or statement to amend the law recognizes that every 4Ps family has its own story.)
He emphasized that it is not appropriate to generalize that all beneficiaries must exit after seven years. “Hindi mo puwedeng ilagum sila lahat na, ‘Okay, seven years, alis na kayo — hindi ho ganoon ang ating Pangulo. Ang ating Pangulo malaki ang puso para sa ating mga kababayan, lalong lalo na sa ating mga kababayan na mahihirap,” Gatchalian stated. (You cannot say ‘okay, after seven years, get out – that’s not our President. Our President has a big heart for our people, especially the poor.)
The 4Ps program serves as the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment initiative, providing conditional cash transfers to improve the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0-18. Currently, more than 4.4 million households continue to benefit from the program.Bookmark messageCopy messageExportThe Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is responding to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) to amend certain provisions of Republic Act 11310, the law that institutionalized the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
During the Post-SONA Discussions Session 3: Health and Social Welfare Protection held on Tuesday in San Juan City, Secretary Rex Gatchalian explained that RA 11310 stipulates that beneficiaries of the 4Ps can remain in the program for a maximum of seven years. However, he noted that factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and rising commodity prices due to inflation have significantly diminished the purchasing power of 4Ps beneficiaries, hindering their ability to adapt to economic challenges.
“Kung dati-rati dapat naka-graduate na sila, ngayon hindi pa sila puwede grumaduate kasi kulang pa iyong panahon para talagang maiahon nila iyong kanilang mga sarili sa kahirapan,” Gatchalian stated. (They should have graduated by now, but they need more time to truly lift themselves out of poverty.)
He highlighted that next year, nearly two million families may be forced to exit the program despite not having improved their living conditions due to the provisions of the law. “Pero, dahil sa panawagan ng ating Pangulo, hindi na nila kailangan mangamba dahil aamyendahan iyong batas sa tulong ng Kongreso at ng Senado para iyong mga hindi pa ready umalis sa programa, manatili muna,” he added. (But because of the call of our President, they don’t have to worry because the law will be amended with the help of the House of Representatives and the Senate so that those who are not yet ready to leave the program can stay.)
Gatchalian reiterated that the seven-year limit should not dictate beneficiaries’ exit from the program; rather, it should be based on their actual living conditions. “Sa ating Pangulo, yung kanyang mungkahi o yung kanyang statement na amyendahan ang batas, ay kinikilala ang bawat pamilya ng 4Ps na may sariling kwento,” he said. (For our President, his suggestion or statement to amend the law recognizes that every 4Ps family has its own story.)
He emphasized that it is not appropriate to generalize that all beneficiaries must exit after seven years. “Hindi mo puwedeng ilagum sila lahat na, ‘Okay, seven years, alis na kayo — hindi ho ganoon ang ating Pangulo. Ang ating Pangulo malaki ang puso para sa ating mga kababayan, lalong lalo na sa ating mga kababayan na mahihirap,” Gatchalian stated. (You cannot say ‘okay, after seven years, get out – that’s not our President. Our President has a big heart for our people, especially the poor.)
The 4Ps program serves as the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment initiative, providing conditional cash transfers to improve the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0-18. Currently, more than 4.4 million households continue to benefit from the program.