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October 18, 2021

Lacson seeks clarification on 4Ps program: Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson seeks clarification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on the increasing allocation for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) which, based on historical data, had a budget of P62.6 billion in 2016, P78 billion in 2017, and P108 billion in 2020. Lacson also pointed out that the allocation for 4Ps cannot be reconciled with the unemployment figure which is unchanged at 2.3 million from 2016 to 2019. During Monday’s virtual hearing of Finance Subcommittee I on the proposed 2022 budget of DSWD October 18, 2021, Lacson said 4Ps, with its education component, is supposed to help children get access to education that will help them find employment. Citing news reports, he noted that about 10,000 families are graduating from 4Ps but the budget for the program keeps on increasing while the unemployment rate remains unchanged. DSWD Dir. Gemma Gabuya explained that the department maintains the number of beneficiaries at 4.4 million and that beneficiaries who graduate from the program are replaced with new ones. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

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