Under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the government is considering reforms to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), including the removal of the seven-year limit on assistance to beneficiaries and the enhancement of case management to ensure continued support for families still struggling to overcome poverty.
During a Palace briefing on Friday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that Marcos’ instruction was meant to ensure that families who have not yet emerged from poverty after seven years under the program will continue to receive support.
“Kasi ang lumalabas po sa rule na ito ay hanggang pitong taon lamang ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa mga miyembro o benepisyaryo ng 4Ps. Ang balak nila ay matanggal itong 7 taong period na ito, at i-strengthen yung case management,” Castro said.
“Kung halimbawa hindi pa nila kayang gumraduate sa katapusan ng pitong taon, ay mananatili pa rin ang pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan na nasa ilalim po ng 4Ps,” she added.
The Palace Press Officer said that the ultimate goal of the 4Ps under President Marcos is to help beneficiaries “graduate” from the program, which would signify marked improvements in their quality of life.
Castro said another plan is to include beneficiaries’ children from zero to two years old under the program’s monitoring.
Castro also disclosed plans to include the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) as a member of the 4Ps Advisory Council to include housing benefits for beneficiaries. Presidential News Desk