DSWD vows to improve more programs on human capital, 4Ps

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday vowed to invest more in programs that would uplift the lives of poor Filipinos, promote their welfare and ensure better delivery of services.

This as the June survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed an increase in self-rated poor to 58 percent from 46 percent in March.

DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokeswoman Irene Dumlao, in an interview with radio DzBB, said the agency has been implementing a lot of programs to assist Filipinos, especially the poor, and to promote their development and help them get out of poverty.

Dumlao said the DSWD believes that investing in human capital is one of the keys to improving the productivity of one’s self and helping them to become a productive member of society which can be translated into improvements in living standards.

“Isa sa mga talagang tinutukan ng administrasyong Marcos Jr. ay iyung pagpapatibay ng social protection at pag-e-expand ng social welfare services na pinangungunahan ng ating ahensya (One of the focuses of the Marcos Jr. administration is the strengthening of social protection and expanding social welfare services where our agency is the lead),” she added.

Among the flagship programs of the department is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which aims to uplift the lives of the vulnerable.

President Marcos Jr. had earlier approved two enhancements for the 4Ps – to protect the beneficiaries from inflation and mitigate malnutrition and stunting among children.

Dumlao said that since the enactment of the 4Ps law in 2019, the cash grant that beneficiaries receive has remained the same, making it urgent to add inflation proofing to protect the more than 4.3 million beneficiaries from the cost of commodities.

She said also to be included in the 4Ps is the “First 1000-day grant” which will provide supplementary cash grants for female beneficiaries who are pregnant and nursing mothers to further improve the health and nutrition of their children during the critical first 1,000 days.

“Aside from these enhancements, we are partnering with different agencies to ensure the financial security and sustainability of our 4Ps beneficiaries