DSWD pushes automatic upgrade of 4Ps cash aid every 2 years
THE Marcos administration is asking Congress to amend the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act to include a provision that would allow an inflation-based “automatic indexing” or upgrading of the cash grant given to beneficiaries.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian yesterday said the 4Ps cash grant has not changed since it was institutionalized in 2019 through Republic Act 11310, or the 4Ps Act.
He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is currently reviewing the present financial aid with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to determine the appropriate cash grant amount that would help soften the impact of inflation on 4Ps beneficiaries.
He said said President Marcos Jr. wants the 4Ps grant reviewed regularly, even after his term ends in 2028, to ensure that it would continue to be responsive to the needs of the poor.
“Ang gusto ng Pangulo may automatic indexing scheme wherein every two years, automatic ina-upgrade siya based on inflation for the lowest 30 percent ng ating population, para forever napo-protektahan iyung piso, kada piso na binibigay natin sa mga 4Ps beneficiaries (What the President wants is an automatic indexing scheme where every two years, it is automatically upgraded based on inflation for the lowest 30 percent of our population, so that the peso can be protected forever, for every peso we give to the 4Ps beneficiaries),” he said.
Gatchalian said another possible amendment to the 4Ps Act is the inclusion of a provision guaranteeing additional support to the 4Ps when they graduate from the program, such as the provision of scholarship and livelihood aid.
At present, the DSWD provides a cash grant, under the Supplemental Livelihood program, to 4Ps households upon their graduation from the program to help them start their businesses or sustain efforts to keep them above the poverty threshold.
There are 4.4 million 4Ps beneficiaries at present, with at least 400,000 expected to graduate from the program this year.
The 4Ps beneficiaries are usually provided every month with a P750 health grant, P600 rice grant and educational grant that ranges from P300 to P700 depending if their children are
