Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has shown great interest in heeding the proposal of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries to extend educational support for their children up to college, a move believed to make the government’s flagship anti-poverty program more effective in breaking the cycle of poverty.
In his Tuesday news release, Gatchalian said he would immediately relay and discuss their request to senators and congressmen and to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who wanted the 17-year-old government anti-poverty flagship program to be further strengthened for more effective poverty alleviation.
During a “Kumustahan” session held in Quirino province on Monday, the DSWD chief also told the 4Ps beneficiaries that Malacañang has no plan to abolish the 4Ps, contrary to rumors that the program would be terminated soon.
“Uulitin ko, hindi layunin ng ating Pangulo na buwagin ang ating 4Ps, kundi ang kanyang layunin ay maging mas responsive, makabago yung programa. Kaya nag-iikot kami para marinig kung ano ’yung pwede naming gawin (I will repeat, the President is not aiming to remove the 4Ps, he instead wants it to be a more responsive, modern program. So we go around to hear what we need to do),” Gatchalian pointed out.
“Kumustahan” is a part of the “listening tour” being conducted by the DSWD chief to hear the voice of 4Ps beneficiaries and program implementers.
As stipulated in the current 4Ps Law, the program is intended to provide conditional education and health grants to children aged 0-18 years old. As soon as the monitored members turn 19, which coincides with the time they are about to enter tertiary education, they are no longer eligible for the cash grants.
“Dito nakita na kahit ga’no kahirap yung buhay, talagang pinupursigi nila na merong kahit isang college diploma holder sa isang pamilya. Kaya nga ang sabi nila kung palakasin yung program na bigyan ng pansin ’yung suporta sa edukasyon… sabi nila sana pati na rin yung sa kolehiyo masakop para talagang masigurado na yung investment to human capital o yung namumuhan tayo sa taumbayan, kumpleto (Here [in the dialogue] we saw that no matter how hard is to live, they really pursue to have even a single college diploma holder in a family. So they assume that if the program is strengthened, giving more support to education…with hope to also cover college to ensure investment in human capital or investment in our people, it’s complete),” Gatchalian also said in an interview with a local radio station in Quirino.
He said the agency is considering the extension as the conversations with beneficiaries highlighted how the program has heavily instilled the value of education among poor households.
Aside from the beneficiaries, the listening tour in Quirino also reached case managers, or the city or municipal links — those directly tasked to implement the 4Ps in the field.
“Ako, bukod sa nagpasalamat, pinakinggan ko rin kung paano natin gagawing mas efficient yung pag-deliver ng mga programa ng DSWD (Me, aside from my gratitude, I also heard how we can make mor efficient the delivery of DSWD programs),” Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief noted that optimism remains high among 4Ps families who see the combined support of the national and local governments for the program.
This will be met with even more inclusive plans and development to make the program more efficient in tackling the issue of poverty, according to the DSWD chief. (PNA)
