House OKs institutionalized 4P’s program

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to institutionalize the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

With 196 affirmative votes, six negative and zero abstentions, the chamber approved House Bill 7773, which aims to reduce poverty, promote human capital development, provide resources and improve the delivery of services.

Under the measure, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will select qualified households nationwide through a standardized targeting system.

Each qualified household-beneficiary will be entitled to a lump-sum conditional cash transfer (CCT) equivalent to P2,200 per month to be used for health, nutrition and educational expenses.

With this, a household-beneficiary may receive up to P26,400 in a year, for a maximum of five years.

Aside from this, a beneficiary may also receive loan assistance if he or she has successfully completed the required skills training.

The DSWD will likewise provide beneficiaries with direct and secured access to cash grants through authorized government depository banks.

The program will continue until it has covered 60 percent of the total number of extremely poor households in the country, which may be determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Emmi De Jesus, however, opposed the approval of the measure, saying that it only provides a temporary solution to the issue of poverty in the country.

"Kapag ba sila ay nakatawid na sila doon sa kabilang ibayo ng kahirapan, ano ba ang pangmatagalang programang naghihintay sa kanila? Pero ang tanong ko, ito bang programang ito ay gawing institusyon?" she said.

"Malinaw na ang kailangan nating programa ay magtitiyak ng sustenidong sagot sa kahirapan. Malinaw na pinapatigas ng bill nito ang institutionalization of poverty," she added.

Following its passage in the House, the bill will be transmitted to the Senate for its own deliberation and approval. —NB, GMA News