Strengthened 4Ps pushed
A LAWYER has pushed for the passage of a measure strengthening the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Law to provide more sustainable intervention to fight poverty.
AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, the principal author of the “Expanded Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act,” said during the hearing of the House committee on poverty alleviation last February 7, that it is high time to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 11310 or “An Act Institutionalizing the 4Ps” to provide opportunities to adult household members by supporting their education, entrepreneurship and employment trainings.
“Anchored in the principle of investing in human development, we want to address poverty by opening opportunities for 4Ps adult beneficiaries to capacitate them to provide for their families after the 7-year maximum period that the program is allowed to support them,” the solon from Sorsogon said.
“Adults must not be forgotten or neglected just for the mere reason that they are already working. We can still help them and give them opportunities to make their lives better,” he added.
Under this measure which was approved by the Committee on Poverty Alleviation, interventions to assist 4Ps adult beneficiaries shall have three (3) tracks, namely: (1) the Entrepreneurship Track; (2) the Employment Track; and the (3) Alternative Learning System (ALS) Track. At least one adult beneficiary must join and complete any of the said tracks.
Adult beneficiaries who successfully complete the Entrepreneurship Track shall be given assistance by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure the ease of establishing a micro or small business and link him/her to a target clientele. Those who finish the Employment Track shall be given job facilitation assistance by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), while those who complete non-formal education using the ALS Track by the Department of Education (DepEd) until they finish Senior High School shall be given assistance to ensure their pursuit of higher learning or employment.
“Mas makakamit ang layunin ng programa kung nabibigyang lakas at kakayahan din ang iba pang miyembro ng 4Ps families na mapaunlad ang sarili at pamilya. Sa pag-asenso nila, mas makakaambag sila sa komunidad at sa buong bansa. Winner Tayo Lahat,” Lee said.
Under the existing law, 4Ps provides conditional cash grants to qualified indigent families to improve their health, nutrition, and the education of their children aged 0-18.
As of 30 September 2022, 4Ps covers a total of 4,285,531 household beneficiaries across 41,676 barangays in the country, a big number of which are agricultural workers.
The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this proposed amendments to RA 10310 shall be taken from the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
