A party-list lawmaker on Thursday recommended inflation-adjusted increases on the cash grants for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.
In a statement, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee said an annual review is also necessary for a more focused monitoring and responsive intervention of the program.
Lee cited section 10 of Republic Act No. 11310, which provides that the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) shall recommend to the National Advisory Council whether the cash grants shall be adjusted to their present value using the consumer price index, as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority, every six years.
“Ito pong pagsusuri kung kailangan nang i-adjust ang cash grants sa 4Ps, baka pwede natin gawing annual review? (Maybe this review on adjusting the 4Ps cash grants can be made annually?),” Lee said. “Kasi with the inflation, kada taon po ay maaaring mas bumibigat ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan (The inflation burden might increase every year with Filipinos).”
Lee said the PIDS could propose adjustments on the 4Ps cash grants to be included in the 2024 budget, as Congress is expected to start budget deliberations in the coming weeks.
He said these adjustments could be made instead of waiting for the passage of the pending bills amending the 4Ps law.
“Kung hihintayin pa natin ang mga nakasalang na batas, dadaan pa sa maraming proseso – dadaan pa sa budget, sa Senate – baka ito ay 2025 pa [mapakinabangan ng mga benepisyaryo]. In the meantime, alam natin na kulang na ang natatanggap ng ating 4Ps beneficiaries. Maganda na may makita na tayong paraan para dito habang tayo ay nasa budget deliberation (If we have to wait for these laws to be passed, they would still undergo various processes–budget deliberations, Senate deliberations–then [beneficiaries would benefit from this] in 2025. In the meantime, we already know that what the 4Ps beneficiaries get are not enough. It would be better if we could find a solution during budget deliberations),” he said.
The 4Ps law currently provides conditional cash transfer grants of at least PHP300 per month per child for a maximum of 10 months per year for children enrolled in daycare and elementary programs, at least PHP500 per month per child for up to 10 months per year for children enrolled in junior high school, and at least PHP700 per month per child for up to 10 months per year for senior high school.
The 4Ps, implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is a national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to qualified household beneficiaries.
It likewise provides social protection, social assistance, social development, and other complementary support services in partnership with concerned agencies, local government, and other stakeholders towards improving the health, nutrition, education, and socioeconomic aspects of life. (PNA)
Photo credit: DSWD Official Website