Latest news with #Post-SONA
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
GMA Network
29-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Amendments to 4Ps law will let beneficiaries stay more than 7 years — DSWD
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that amendments to the 4Ps program would allow beneficiaries to stay in the program as long as they needed to. During the Post-SONA discussion on Tuesday, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian shared that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s call to amend the 4Ps law 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. 'Itong programa na ito namumuhunan tayo sa taong bayan, namumuhunan tayo sa Pilipino. This is an investment in human capital. Kumbaga hindi pa tapos yung ating pamumuhunan, kailangan siguraduhin natin na hindi masayang 'yung investment natin,' he said. (This program invests in the public and Filipinos. This is an investment on human capital. Our investments are not yet over, so we need to ensure that what we have poured in would not be wasted.) Gatchalian noted that the length of a beneficiary's stay in the program should depend on their state and quality of life, and if they would be able to support themselves after graduating from the program. 'Tinignan ng Pangulo yung kapakanan nila at yung estado nila sa buhay rather than yung pipilitin natin na alis sila sa programa, masasayang ang pamumuhunan natin sa kanila at masasayang yung programa sa whole,' he shared. (The President is considering their welfare and state of life rather than forcing them to leave the program, and it would be a waste of our investment on them and the program as a whole.) 'Kailan tignan natin yung estado ng pamilya: Kaya na ba talaga nilang tumayo sa kanilang sariling paa? Yung mga anak ba nila, nakatapos na?' he added. (We need to look at the state of the family: Can they now stand on their own? Have their kids been able to finish their studies?) The DSWD Secretary shared that 1.4 million Filipinos have already graduated from the 4Ps program since it began in 2022. — RF, GMA Integrated News
