Gatchalian: 4Ps only 50% effective; law needs to be reviewed

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Law had to be reviewed as it was only 50% effective given the small  number of beneficiaries being able to climb out of poverty.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, the lawmaker said that the 4Ps has not been able to alleviate poverty as only 90,000 children from 4.4 million family beneficiaries were able to graduate from high school.

Gatchalian said that 4Ps beneficiaries should be given financial aid so beneficiaries could finish their studies up to the college level. They should also be given better livelihood opportunities so they could work their way out of poverty.

“Kailangan talagang pag-aralang mabuti ito. Hindi ko sinasabi na putulin, hindi ko sinasabing na tanggalin, kundi pag-aralang mabuti. Kasi nga ang konsepto nito, umaangat ang kanyang estado, umaangat yung antas ng pamumuhay niya, at hindi ‘yun ang nakikita natin ngayon,” he said.

(It needs to be studied carefully. I'm not saying to cut the program or stop it, but to study it carefully. The concept for this is that the beneficiaries’ living conditions should be getting better, but that's not what we are seeing now.)

Despite this, Gatchalian acknowledged the benefits that the 4Ps Law provided underprivileged Filipinos, particularly in education and health assistance.

“Unang-una, marami nang naga-graduate. Marami nang nakakapagtapos. Ibig sabihin ‘yung dropout rate natin sa elementarya at high school, napababa natin. Mas madami ang nagaaaral,” he said.

(First of all, many are graduating or have graduated. This means that we have reduced our dropout rate in elementary and high school.)

“Pangalawa, marami tayong pamilya na natutulungan. Mas nagiging malusog sila, nagaaral yung kanilang mga anak. Meron silang pang-buwan buwan na ginagamit para sa kanilang araw-araw na gastusin,” he added.

(Second, we are helping numerous families. They become healthier, their children are getting educated. They have a monthly allowance that is used for their daily expenses.)

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday also agreed that there was a need to review the 4Ps Law, saying the initiative was good but it appeared not to have been studied properly.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, had filed a resolution seeking to convene a joint congressional oversight committee to evaluate the need for the continuous implementation of the 4Ps Law.

Hontiveros said there was a "need to review and assess the program's implementation and develop strategies to make it more responsive and effective in achieving its set goal of breaking intergenerational poverty."