AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Monday lauded the passage on second reading by the House of Representatives of the measure which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 11310, or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act, by providing capacity building—specifically education, entrepreneurship training, and skills upgrading—for adult beneficiaries.
Lee, the principal author and co-sponsor of “Expanded 4Ps Act,” stressed that the said measure is an “effective investment to our people to enable them to earn, stand on their own, successfully graduate from the 4Ps program, and help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty.”
The measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 11310, or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act, by providing capacity building—specifically education, entrepreneurship training, and skills upgrading—for adult beneficiaries.
“Alam natin na para sa marami nating mga kababayan, ayaw nila ng handouts, gusto nila ng trabaho at oportunidad. Ito po ang mismong layunin ng panukalang batas na ito.”
The lawmaker from Bicol pointed out that “pamumuhunan ito sa kakayahan at kinabukasan ng mamamayan, lalo na ang mas nangangailangan. We are proud to push for this important bill that makes adult education, livelihood, and entrepreneurship skills training part of the 4Ps benefit package, which is limited to a maximum of seven years in the program.”
“If we are able to shepherd the passage of this bill, we will be able to guarantee and improve the ability of adult beneficiaries to ease their plight by expanding their opportunities for education, employment—or to start their own business,” he added.
Under this measure, the government will be offering additional cash grants to beneficiaries to pay for the cost of transportation and meals as they pursue any of the three tracks:
a) Continuing education through Alternative Learning System (ALS) Track until they finish Grade 12 or Senior High School;
b) Entrepreneurship Track to learn how to manage and grow a business; and
c) Employment Track for up-skilling in order to make themselves more marketable in the labor market.
“Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilya ng Pantawid (SNPP), sa walang pagod at aktibo nilang pakikipagtulungan para maisulong at mapaganda ang batas na ito—sila na mga patunay kung paano nakakatulong ang programa para mapabuti ang kalidad ng pamumuhay ng mga nangangailangan nating kababayan,” the solon said.
According to Lee, “milyon-milyon nating kababayan ang natulungan na ng 4Ps. Narinig na natin ang iba’t ibang success stories ng mga anak na nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral at ngayon ay nakapagtrabaho na. Isipin po natin kung gaano kalaking tulong kung ang mga magulang naman ang matulungan natin na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral, makapaghanapbuhay, at makapagsimula ng negosyo.”
“Winner Tayo Lahat dito dahil kapag nakaahon sa kahirapan ang mga benepisyaryo, sila naman ang makakatulong bilang produktibong mamamayan sa ating lipunan, na makakatulong din sa iba pang nangangailangan.”
