The institutionalization of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) through Republic Act 11310 served as the basis for the increase in the program’s proposed 2020 budget.

For next year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as the lead implementing agency of 4Ps, has proposed P108.8 billion or an increase of P19 billion compared to the Department’s P89 billion budget in 2019. The budget of 4Ps constitutes the biggest share in the proposed P158.55 billion DSWD budget for 2020.

The increase in the budget will cover the monthly educational cash grants of P700 for senior high school beneficiaries and the monthly health grant of P750, based on the provisions of the 4Ps Act.

The higher grants would translate into more benefits for household beneficiaries giving them added cash on hand to spend for their basic and health needs.

DSWD appeals to the members of Congress for their full support for the swift approval of the Agency’s budget emphasizing that the early availability of the necessary funding will accelerate the delivery of all government vital programs and services, promote the welfare of the marginalized sector, and pave the way for more opportunities for Filipinos.

4Ps is an investment in human capital which seeks to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by focusing on education and health of the beneficiaries. It uses the conditional cash transfer scheme to provide cash grants to the beneficiaries who comply with the program conditionalities which are: children 3 to 18 years old must be enrolled in kindergarten, elementary, and high school, and attend classes at least 85% of the time each month; children 0-5 years old must receive regular preventive health check-ups, growth monitoring, and vaccines; pregnant women get pre and post-natal care (must be attended by skilled/professional health workers); children in elementary must receive de-worming pills twice a year; and attendance of the grantee/parent/guardian to the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS). -30-