House eyes passage of bill raising 4Ps cash grants

The House of Representatives is pushing to approve a proposed measure that would increase the monthly cash grants under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for education, health, and nutrition, House Majority Leader Alexander “Sandro” Marcos said.

Marcos said the House Committee on Appropriations is “working very hard” to pass the bill, which has significant budgetary implications.

“Passing a consolidated 4Ps bill is important to strengthen support for education, health, and nutrition. It will help the government provide more sustained assistance to Filipino households,” Marcos said in a statement.

“We want to strengthen social protection for the country’s low-income families,” he added.

The measure, a consolidation of several House bills seeking to amend the 4Ps Act, was earlier approved by the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation.

Under the bill, education cash grants for 4Ps beneficiaries’ children would increase across all levels.

Monthly assistance would rise from P300 to P500 for daycare and elementary pupils, from P500 to P700 for junior high school students, and from P700 to P900 for senior high school students, for up to ten months per year.

The monthly health grant would also increase from P750 to P1,800 for up to 12 months annually. Children with disabilities would receive an additional P400 per month to support medical needs.

The proposed amendment further introduces a Food and Nutrition Cash Grant of P1,100 per month for up to 12 months, and a monthly grant of P400 for children aged zero to two.

“The measure mandates more frequent reviews of cash grant levels and program outcomes, shortening the assessment cycle from every six years to every three years," the statement read.

"It also adds conditionalities requiring beneficiary households to complete government-accredited livelihood and skills training programs, reinforcing the goal of helping families transition from dependency to self-sufficiency,” it added.—MCG, GMA Integrated News