SAGIP Party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta asked the House of Representatives to kick off a formal inquiry into the big cut made by Senator Imee Marcos in the budget of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in 2023.

Marcoleta called for the investigation during the briefing of the House Committees on Public Accounts and on Social Services concerning the deletion of P13 billion from the budget of 4Ps in 2023 and the current shortage of P9 billion for the implementation of the program this year which has denied aid to 843,000 families or an estimated four million poor Filipinos.

“In fairness to Sen. Imee Marcos we cannot make any judgment bssed on press reports. Siguro ang pwede nating gawin let’s make an official inquiry paano nangyari yan,” said Marcoleta.

“This is a very serious issue Mr. Chair. Sana we should have a formal inquiry. Let us do everything possible not only probably to identify who is or are responsible… but maybe better, yung maibalik sana natin ito. I hope it is not too late Mr. Secretary,” added the solon.

The DSWD implements the 4Ps law, which aims to aid indigent families.

Senator Marcos reportedly transferred the slashed funds to other programs of the DSWD.

“The last time we checked, I think the House of Representatives has nothing to do with this. And after the bicam, some miracles were performed,” said Gatchalian.

Marcoleta said the House inquiry will determine what really happened.

“Bakit naman nagkaganoon? There should be a reason. Malaking problema ito. Hindi naman basta naisip niya lang, napanaginip niya lang, napanaginipan niya biglang tatangalin ito simply because there was underutlization here and there,” Marcoleta said.

“Sana lang sino man ang responsible inisip niyang mabuti ito.

“SAGIP is Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty. Because the sector of representation is the urban poor, malaki ang stake ko naman dito sa sector na ito na aking ginagalawan,” he said.

According to Gatchalian, the DSWD asked the Senate and the House not to alter the 4Ps fund but received no reply.

He said portions of the budget were transferred due to low utilization rate of DSWD from 2020 to 2022 before the Marcos administration.