The institutionalization of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as the national poverty reduction strategy will be finally operationalized with the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11310 or  “An Act Institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in April 2019.

A ceremonial signing of the IRR will be held on December 10, 2019 in Quezon City.  Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista will lead the signing together with officials of the Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Education (DepEd), and representatives of other agencies and organizations that took part in the crafting of the IRR.

The IRR is a collaboration of efforts of DSWD, national government agencies, local government units, and non-government organizations.

4Ps milestones

Since its inception in 2008, 4Ps has invested in human capital focusing mostly on its beneficiaries’ health, nutrition, education, and family development.

From an initial 321,380 household-beneficiaries during its pilot stage undertaken in 160 cities and municipalities and 28 provinces from all 17 regions back in 2008, DSWD, as the lead implementing agency, takes pride in the expansion of the program within a span of only 11 years. Based on the Program Implementation Status Report for the first quarter of 2019, 4Ps is now implemented in 144 cities and 1,483 municipalities in 80 provinces from all 17 regions with the number of household-beneficiaries growing to 4,876,394.

With the IRR, 4Ps is on its way towards covering more poor households, providing livelihood opportunities, and extending higher cash grants.

Salient points

From a P500 worth of health grant per month, the law states that the program will now provide P750 per month. The education grant will also increase from P300 per month for each elementary student and P500 per month for each high school student to P300 per child per month for those in elementary and daycare, P500 per child per month for those in junior high school, and P700 per child per month for those in senior high school.

There will also be additional grants to cover the rice and tax subsidy.

For sustainability, the beneficiaries will also be given priority in availing the interventions and modalities or employment facilitation services presented by DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) or other similar programs offered by other government agencies and accredited private institutions.

These will all be provided to the beneficiaries as long as they are compliant to the conditions set by the program such as availing pre-natal, birthing, and post-natal medical care, undergoing regular check-ups and vaccinations for children 5 years old and below, deworming, ensuring 85% attendance in school, and participating in monthly Family Development Sessions – all for the ultimate goal of improving their quality of life.

The upcoming ceremonial signing allows not only the department and the beneficiaries, but the entire nation, to take one more step towards this goal. -30-