DSWD’s 4Ps
MANY of the Philippine population of more than 110 million people still consider themselves as belonging to the poorest of the poor category.
It is heartening to know, however, that the administration’s conditional cash transfer program is a big help to the national government’s campaign to meet the many needs of the poor.
More known as 4Ps, the “Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program” provides cash grants to the poorest of the poor to improve the health, nutrition and education of children aged 0-18.
Implementing the pro-poor program is the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
And we agree with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through CARITAS Philippines, when it said the program should not be politicized.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of CARITAS Philippines, called on the DSWD leadership to ensure that the program will not be used for political purposes on October 30.
Note that the country’s millions of registered voters go to the polls anew on Oct. 30, 2023 for the non-partisan Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Bagaforo said “we need to ensure that the program is implemented in a way that it is fair and… ensure that the poorest and most marginalized people be prioritized.”
Of course, we share Bishop Bagaforo’s view that maintaining the integrity of the cash transfer program is necessary.
And like the “Tupad Program,” which is DOLE’s emergency employment project, 4Ps should not be used to advance the political interests of local leaders and politicians.
Dapat lang!
