Latest news with #PantawidPamilyangPilipinoProgram
Filipino Times
4 days ago
- General
- Filipino Times
DSWD welcomes South Korea's rice donation to boost disaster response and peace efforts
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) welcomed the donation of over 2,000 metric tons of rice from the Republic of Korea, which will strengthen the agency's disaster preparedness programs and support peace and development initiatives in Mindanao. At the turnover ceremony held at the DSWD National Resources Operations Center in Pasay City, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian expressed gratitude for the donation, highlighting its importance in reinforcing emergency relief operations ahead of the typhoon season and other climate-related disasters. Of the total rice donated, 1,632 metric tons will be used by the DSWD to stockpile emergency supplies for vulnerable communities nationwide. The remaining 384 metric tons will be delivered to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to aid ongoing peacebuilding and socio-economic programs. South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa noted that the rice carries cultural and symbolic weight, especially in the Philippines where the staple food is closely tied to identity, survival, and social stability. 'We are not just speaking of bags of rice—we are talking about resilience, food security, and esprit de corps at a time when we are all learning to live in a new normal. A time when the world is grappling with how to make our cities and communities more resilient to natural disasters and other climate crises,' he said. The DSWD's flagship programs, including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Walang Gutom, were also acknowledged by South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa as key initiatives that promote social stability and resilience. The donation is part of South Korea's broader humanitarian partnership with the Philippines, building on past rice donations through the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) and direct bilateral assistance facilitated with the World Food Programme (WFP).
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DSWD rejects calls to scrap 4Ps: It's proven in fight vs. poverty
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has brushed aside calls to abolish the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in favor of lump sum cash grants for beneficiaries to start their own business. "Walang reason na talagang ii-scrap o buwagin ang programa kasi napatunayan that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program can contribute para bumaba ang ating poverty incidence," Gemma Gabuya, DSWD 4Ps program director, said in a report Wednesday by Dano Tingcungco on Unang Balita. (There's no reason to scrap the program because it has been proven that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program can contribute to reducing poverty incidence.) The 4Ps is the government's national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfers to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0 to 18. Earlier, Senator Erwin Tulfo suggested that the 4Ps conditional cash transfer program should be replaced with a lump sum livelihood fund, saying some 4Ps beneficiaries prefer livelihood capital instead of monthly cash transfers. "'Yung pang-isang taon nilang matatanggap, ibigay mo na nang lump sum, at bahala ka na d'yan. Pero bago mo bigyan sila ng budget, kailangan alam nila, sabihin nila kung ano'ng gagawin sa pera na 'yon, at may training po sila," Tulfo said. (Give them the equivalent of one year's worth of assistance as a lump sum. It will be up to them what to do with the money. Before giving away the money, however, beneficiaries must declare how they plan to use it, and undergo appropriate training.) The DSWD projects that the 4Ps program would help some 3 million Filipinos get out of poverty. The program is more than about cash dole outs, the DSWD said, as part of the conditions to receive the benefits is that the household's children go to school and that they take regular visits to health centers. Education, health, and things taught through the Family Development Sessions (FDS) are the keys to break the cycle of poverty, according to the DSWD. "Mahirap ang one-time, kasi 'di mo ma-assure na tuloy-tuloy ang pag-aaral ng bata. Pero at least ngayon [sa 4Ps], susundan mo eh, susundan mo at talagang made-develop mo 'yung... behavior. Ito naman yung purpose ng 4Ps eh, yung behavior change. Na talaga yung mga magulang, kahit na mahirap, mabigyan lang ng pagkakataon na makapag-aral ang mga bata, talagang magsusumikap," she added. (A one-time grant makes it hard to ensure a child's continued schooling. But with 4Ps, the progress is monitored, and behavior is developed. That's the focus of 4Ps—behavior change. Some families are inspired to work harder just to keep their children in school.) For Tulfo, providing startup capital for small businesses could offer a more sustainable path out of poverty as compared to monthly handouts which may foster dependency. Kate Hillary Condez, whose family is a 4Ps beneficiary, shared that the program has been instrumental in helping her overcome hardships due to poverty. Her mother enrolled in the 4Ps program in 2019 because she was jobless and wanted to send her children to school. "Sa education po namin, binibili ni mama ng gamit namin sa school 'pag may natatanggap po siya. Sa health naman po namin, 'yung gamot, nakakabili siya ng ibang kailangan namin sa bahay like yung mga bigas po," said Kate. (For our education, my mother would use money from 4Ps to buy our school supplies. For health, she was able to buy medicine and other household needs like rice.) Kate said the family also benefited from sessions that taught them how to better manage the cash grants and become responsible citizens. "Nagtuturo po yung mga municipal ng ibang paraan kung paano magagamit cash grant. And tinuturuan din nila beneficiary na maging aktibong mamamayan—hindi lang po in terms of education, in terms din ng pagiging huwarang pamilya," she added. (They teach different ways to use the cash grant. Beneficiaries are also taught to be active citizens—not just in terms of education, but also in becoming model families.) She has since graduated with a degree in Office Administration and now plans to help her family, knowing that the 4Ps support is limited to a maximum of seven years. For the DSWD, the goal is to empower families like Kate's and guide them out of poverty—not just through money, but through sustained behavioral and developmental change. During his fourth State of the Nation Address last July 28, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. directed the inclusion of homeless individuals in 4Ps and other DSWD programs. On Monday, House Deputy Minority Leader and ML party-list Representative Leila de Lima defended the 4Ps program, saying its beneficiaries are no freeloaders. De Lima, one of the authors of Republic Act 11310 or the law that institutionalized 4Ps, issued the statement in response to Tulfo's statement that the 4Ps should be scrapped and replaced by livelihood assistance instead. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
De Lima defends 4Ps, says beneficiaries are no freeloaders
House Deputy Minority Leader and ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on Monday defended the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or the conditional cash transfer program, saying that its beneficiaries are no freeloaders. De Lima, one of the authors of Republic Act 11310, the law that institutionalized 4Ps, issued the statement in response to the suggestion of Senator Erwin Tulfo that the 4Ps should be scrapped and should be replaced by livelihood assistance instead. The 4Ps program provides cash to poorest households in exchange for complying with conditions promoting human development such as keeping kids in school, attending family development sessions, among others. 'Hindi palamunin ang mga benepisyaryo ng 4Ps. Hindi limos ang programang ito. May mga kondisyon ang programang ito para maipagkaloob sa mga benepisyaryo ang suporta ng gobyerno. Batay ito sa prinsipyo ng shared responsibility – sa pagitan ng pamahalaan at ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino na may hangaring makaahon sa kahirapan,' De Lima said. (The 4Ps beneficiaries are not freeloaders. The program is not about almsgiving. There are conditions that they should meet to secure the benefit. This is about shared responsibility between the government and the beneficiaries.) While the program is not perfect, De Lima said that it cannot be resolved with a 'burn the whole house down' solution. 'Yes, there are gaps in implementation. Yes, some abuses have been reported. But that's precisely why we must strengthen, not scrap, the program. The answer is better targeting, better monitoring, and better support systems, not abandoning millions of families who have long relied on this program to survive, recover, and rebuild,' she said. 'Over 1.5 million households have already graduated from poverty under the 4Ps framework, according to the President's own State of the Nation Address. That is not a failure. That is progress that must be sustained,' she added. De Lima then said that if any, the 4Ps program should be expanded as provided under her proposed House Bill 1434 which seeks to include adult education, livelihood training, employment facilitation, at entrepreneurship development. 'Our goal here is a sustainable program to alleviate their plight, not just to tide them over,' de Lima said. 'Ito ang hinaharap na gusto nating ihatid: kung saan ang tulong ng gobyerno ay hindi nakakababa ng dignidad, kundi nagbibigay-lakas. Hindi perpekto ang 4Ps. Pero huwag nating sirain ang isang programang may mabuting layunin at malinaw na tagumpay, lalo na't may mga kongkretong hakbang para mas mapabuti ito,' she added. (This is the future that we want to achieve: where the government assistance does not degrade dignity but strengthens. 4Ps is not perfect but let us not destroy a program with a noble aim and clear victory, especially if there are concrete ways to improve it.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
03-08-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Instead of cash, grant livelihood capital to 4Ps beneficiaries — Erwin Tulfo
Senator Erwin Tulfo has proposed to provide livelihood capital to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) instead of cash transfer to curb reported abuses. 'If we give them capital, they can use it to start businesses and contribute to the economy. We can provide them enough funds to start a sari-sari store, an eatery, or even engage in online selling,' Tulfo said Sunday in a statement. This after some 4Ps beneficiaries were reportedly caught using their cash grants on gambling and illegal drugs. Tulfo added some 4Ps beneficiaries 'would rather have livelihood capital instead of monthly cash transfer.' 'It is also hard for them to hear that they are being called freeloaders, lazy, and that they do not add value to the country,' the senator said. 'It is also unfair to low-wage earners like security guards, janitors, or house helpers who tighten their belts due to lack of funds but receive nothing from the government, such as 4Ps, since they are not qualified,' he added. The lawmaker said this proposal is one of the topics he aims to deliver in his upcoming meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian. However, the date was not disclosed. During the Post-SONA discussion on Tuesday, Gatchalian shared that the President's call to amend the 4Ps law would that would allow those in the program to stay longer than seven years. Gatchalian noted this as a welcome development, as two million Filipinos were about to exit the program in 2026 for reaching the maximum number of years in the program. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
28-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
SONA 2025: Marcos boasts more TESDA scholarships, priority aid for 4Ps students
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address on Monday touted major strides in the country's higher education sector, highlighting the expansion of TESDA scholarships, and financial aid for poor families. In his fourth SONA, Marcos reaffirmed his administration's commitment to making both college and technical-vocational education more accessible, especially for disadvantaged youth. 'Dumami din ang nabigyan ng scholarships sa TESDA. Nito lamang 2024, higit pa sa dalawandaang libo ang nadagdag na mga scholarships para sa TechVoc,' Marcos said. (The number of TESDA scholarships has grown. Just in 2024, over 200,000 new Technical-Vocational scholarships were added.) The President emphasized that students from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households will be given higher priority in entering college over the next three years. 'Sa mga kasama naman sa Listahanan at 4Ps: itong susunod na tatlong taon, bibigyan natin ng mataas na prayoridad ang mga anak ninyong tutungtong sa kolehiyo,' he said. (For families under the Listahanan and 4Ps: over the next three years, your children entering college will be given top priority.) Marcos noted that more than two million students currently benefit from free public college education, with 260,000 additional scholars added under his term. 'Taon-taon, mahigit dalawang milyong estudyante ang nakakapag-aral ng libreng kolehiyo... Dinagdagan pa natin ng dalawang daan at animnapung libong estudyante ang nakinabang dito,' Marcos reported. (Each year, over two million students benefit from free college education... and under our administration, we added 260,000 more beneficiaries.) For 2026, nearly ?60 billion has been allocated for free tuition and subsidies in public colleges and Tech-Voc programs. Marcos celebrated the country's rise in higher education participation, citing that the Philippines now ranks second in ASEAN in terms of youth enrollment in college and technical-vocational training. 'Napakataas ngayon ng bilang ng kabataan nating pumasok sa kolehiyo at sa TESDA. Pilipinas na ang pumapangalawa sa buong ASEAN,' he said. (We now have a very high number of youth enrolled in college and TESDA. The Philippines is now second in all of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.) He also lauded the increasing global recognition of local universities and colleges. From just 22 in 2022, 114 Philippine higher education institutions are now recognized internationally, with 68 of them being public schools. To reward academic excellence, Marcos introduced the Presidential Merit Scholarships for top-performing high school graduates. 'Bilang natatanging pagkilala, gagawaran natin ng Presidential Merit Scholarships ang mga high school graduates na makakakuha ng Highest Honors,' he said. (As a special recognition, we will award Presidential Merit Scholarships to high school graduates who receive Highest Honors.) — RF, GMA Integrated News
