The House Committee on Appropriation has approved funding provisions of an act aiming to institutionalize the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), including raising the subsidy received by beneficiaries.
Appropriations Committee Chair and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles said Congress wanted to integrate improvements in the program including raising the subsidy received by the beneficiaries.
Each beneficiary of the program currently receives a cash grant of Php2,200 per month for health and educational expenses. Only families with three children aged 0 to 18 and those who fall under the “poorest of the poor” category can qualify as beneficiaries.
“A bigger cash grant means more access to basic necessities like medicine and food, as well as an assurance that the family’s kids won’t have to drop out of school due to the lack of resources,” Appropriations Committee Chair and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles Nograles said.
The proposed law also includes other major improvements from the current 4Ps program spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Nograles stressed the importance of 4Ps in the country especially in helping the poor.
“It has served its purpose as an effective poverty alleviation program of previous administrations, the Duterte administration sees wisdom and foresight in turning the program into a law so that it will never be watered down or outright ditched on the mere whim of future leaders of the country,” the lawmaker added.
4Ps was introduced by DSWD in 2008. The program aims to provide financial help to Filipino families in need of support. In return, beneficiaries of the program are required to render services geared toward human capital and development.
Families under 4Ps are also required to do the following:
– Children aged zero to five years need to receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccinations;
– Children aged 1 to 18 must avail of de-worming pills at least twice a year;
– Children aged three to four years must attend daycare or pre-school classes at least 85 percent of the time;
– Pregnant women must get a pre- and post natal care and be attended by a skilled or trained health care professional during childbirth in a health facility;
– At least one responsible person must attend family development sessions and natural family planning sessions conducted by the DSWD, at least once a month; and
– At least one responsible person must join and complete at least two government recognized or accredited NGO-sponsored entrepreneurship or livelihood training
