The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will stay committed to uplifting the lives and welfare of every Filipino by investing in human capital, an official said on Friday.

DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao made this comment following the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which found that 58 percent of families rated themselves as poor, which is 12 points higher than the 46 percent in March 2024 poll.

The survey results also showed 12 percent families considered themselves borderline, while about 30 percent said they are not poor.

“Secretary Rex Gatchalian always says ending poverty will not happen overnight. We, in the department, believe that investing in human capital is one of the keys to improving the productivity of one’s self, helping them to become a productive member of society that can be translated into improvements in living standards,” Dumlao said in a news release.

She said to realize the goal of uplifting the lives of the vulnerable, the DSWD is continuously improving the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the agency’s flagship poverty alleviation program.

Earlier, Gatchalian announced that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has greenlighted two more enhancements for the 4Ps to protect the beneficiaries from inflation and mitigate malnutrition and stunting among children.

The DSWD, Dumlao said, is starting to revisit the policy of the 4Ps to add inflation proofing.

Since the law was enacted in 2019, the cash grant that beneficiaries receive is still the same. With this, 4Ps can protect its beneficiaries from the rising inflation, she said.

The agency will also include the “First 1000-day grant” which will provide supplementary cash grants to female beneficiaries who are pregnant and nursing mothers to further improve the health and nutrition of their children during the critical first 1,000 days.

“Aside from these enhancements, we are partnering with different agencies to ensure the financial security and sustainability of our 4Ps beneficiaries as they graduate and transition out of the program,” Dumlao said.

Earlier this month, the DSWD signed a memorandum of agreement with the state-run Social Security System (SSS) to formalize the provision of low-cost social insurance for the 4Ps beneficiaries who may one day become SSS pensioners.

As part of the DSWD’s commitment to President Marcos’ digital transformation agenda, the agency also collaborated with various private agencies, including online payment portals, to digitize the payout systems of 4Ps and other programs.

Dumlao said 4Ps monitored children have shown great progress by excelling in their studies, making them licensed professional teachers, engineers, midwives, among others.

“There are also topnotchers in board examinations. These accomplishments highlight the positive impact of the 4Ps on the educational attainment of its beneficiaries. They are solid evidence that DSWD’s 4Ps is a valuable tool in effectively investing in human capital,” she said.

The 4Ps aims to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by investing in human capital. The program provides cash grants to improve their health, nutrition, and education, particularly for those 0-18 years old. (PNA)