HOR approves on 3rd reading House Bill 8647 that further strengthens, expands 4Ps law

The House of Representatives on Tuesday evening (May 5) approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) Number 8647 that aims to further strengthen and expand the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and provide clearer pathways for poor households to achieve self-sufficiency.

The legislative milestone serves as a direct fulfillment of the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that every Filipino family has the capacity to stand on their own feet and break free from the intergenerational cycle of poverty.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday (May 6) said the expanded 4Ps goes beyond mere financial assistance by institutionalizing mandatory entrepreneurship and livelihood training for parents, with the DSWD ensuring that it can effectively guide families toward long-term economic resilience.

“Mga kababayan, malaking hakbang ito para sa mas matibay na suporta sa ating mga pamilyang Pilipino. Katuparan ito ng pangarap ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. para sa isang Bagong Pilipinas. Gusto ng ating Pangulo na ang bawat pamilya ay may kakayahang tumayo sa sariling mga paa. Gaya ng lagi niyang paalala sa atin, ang 4Ps ay hindi lang basta “hand-out.” Ito ay puhunan natin para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan,” Secretary Gatchalian said in his social media post on Wednesday.

Recognizing the crucial stages of early child development, the expanded 4Ps program has also introduced targeted interventions for the first 1,000 days of a child’s life by allocating increased health and nutrition grants for pregnant women and infants.

Education remains a core investment under the approved measure, with higher monthly cash subsidies planned for elementary, junior high, and senior high school students to keep children in school and secure their future.

In an interview on Unang Hirit, Secretary Gatchalian said that with the 4Ps program serving as a long-term developmental solution to end intergenerational poverty, the approval of the HB 8647 will further strengthen its capacity to help poor families.

“World Bank, ADB—sila na ang nagsabi na itong programa na ito hindi short term kundi long term ito. Sa katunayan, 2–3 percentage points na ang na-contribute nito sa pagbaba ng kahirapan,” Secretary Gatchalian said on Unang Hirit’s On Record early morning of Wednesday.

“It’s rooted in development, hindi to social welfare, namumuhunan tayo sa ating kabataan para hindi sila maiwan parin sa kahirapan, kasi nga sabi ko nga ang 4Ps is meant to break intergenerational poverty, yung kahirapan naisasalin– hindi maisalin mula sa magulang patungo sa mga anak,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.

Secretary Gatchalian also expressed his profound gratitude to the Filipino taxpayers, highlighting that the 4Ps program has successfully graduated 1.4 million beneficiaries since 2022.

“Salamat sa ating mga taxpayers dahil sa inyo, mahigit 1.4 million families na ang matagumpay na nag-graduate sa programa,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

With the approval of HB 8647 in the House of Representatives, the DSWD is looking forward to the Senate’s action to finally enact the expanded program into law. (KI)

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