AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee has recommended changes in the proposed substitute bill amending the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) law, pushing for inflation-based increases on the cash grants as well as an annual review for a more focused monitoring and responsive intervention of the program.
“Ito pong pagsusuri kung kailangan nang i-adjust ang cash grants sa 4Ps, baka pwede natin gawing annual review? Kaya daw sabi ng PIDS (Philippine Institute for Development Studies). Kasi with the inflation, kada taon po ay maaaring mas bumibigat ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan,” Lee proposed at the Technical Working Group hearing of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation held on Tuesday.
The 4Ps law currently provides conditional cash transfer grants of at least ₱300.00 per month per child for a maximum of 10 months per year for children enrolled in daycare and elementary programs, at least ₱500.00 per month per child for up to 10 months per year for children enrolled in junior high school, and at least ₱700.00 per month per child for up to 10 months per year for senior high school.
“Ang mungkahi nga po natin, yearly na ‘yung review dito ng PIDS, instead of every six years para talagang makatugon sa pangangailangan ng mga benepisyaryo.”
Section 10 of Republic Act No. 11310, which institutionalizes the 4Ps and was signed into law in 2019, provides that every six years after the effectivity of the law, the PIDS shall recommend to the National Advisory Council whether the cash grants shall be adjusted to its present value using the consumer price index, as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“Pwede po na every year, magre-recommend na ang PIDS kung may kakulangan o kailangang adjustment sa 4Ps cash grants para maihabol sa budget ng Department of Social Welfare and Development in time for the budget deliberation para maisama sa budget nila for the following year,” Lee added.
Lee also reiterated his previous request if adjustments on the cash grants could be made in the 2024 budget instead of waiting for the pending bills to be passed.
“Mayroon bang paraan ang DWSD para maibigay na natin ang dagdag na cash grant ngayon pa lang, pending these bills gaya ng sabi ko sa ating last Committee hearing?” he asked.
“Kung hihintayin pa natin ang mga nakasalang na batas, dadaan pa sa maraming proseso – dadaan pa sa budget, sa Senate – baka ito ay 2025 pa [mapakinabangan ng mga benepisyaryo]. In the meantime, alam natin na kulang na ang natatanggap ng ating 4Ps beneficiaries. Maganda na may makita na tayong paraan para dito habang tayo ay nasa budget deliberation,” the Bicolano lawmaker stressed.
The 4Ps law currently provides conditional cash transfer grants of at least ₱300.00 per month per child for a maximum of 10 months per year for children enrolled in day care and elementary programs, at least ₱500.00 per month per child for up to 10 months per year for children enrolled in junior high school, and at least ₱700.00 per month per child for up to 10 months per year for senior high school.
“Dapat magawan natin ng paraan kung paano gawing mas angkop sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan ang lahat ng mga batas na ating ginagawa para masiguro natin na Winner Tayo Lahat.”
