
4Ps expansion
THE people should welcome the expansion of the coverage of the government’s conditional cash grants to the poor and other vulnerable sectors of society.
As approved by President Marcos, beneficiaries of the government’s highly-successful Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) now include pregnant and lactating women.
We share the view of the Chief Executive from Ilocos Norte that the inclusion of pregnant and lactating women will ensure the health of children in their first 1,000 days.
During a meeting in Malacanan last Tuesday, Marcos ordered concerned state agencies to draw up the final numbers and submit the same to the Office of the President.
The government agencies are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
The President had earlier ordered the conduct of a study on the adjustments in the 4Ps cash grants to address health gaps in the system.
Of course, we agree with President Marcos when he said that the government ought to help beneficiaries of the program to cope up with inflation.
Admittedly, prices of almost all commodities, particularly food and energy, continue to spiral not only in the Philippines but elsewhere.
It is heartening to know, however, that government authorities are doing everything to help the country’s beleaguered consumers.
We salute them.