De Lima hails passage into law of 4Ps bill

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has lauded the signing into law of Republic Act No. 11310 institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps) as one of the government's regular anti-poverty programs for qualified poor Filipino families.

De Lima, the principal sponsor and author of the 4Ps bill in the Senate, said the enactment of such measure is "a big step forward in the continuing journey towards attaining social justice for the most vulnerable sectors of the society."

"Lubos tayong nagpapasalamat sa pagiging ganap nang batas ng isinusulong nating pagpapatibay at pagpapalawak sa serbisyong hatid ng 4Ps. Tagumpay po ito, lalo na ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan na mabibigyan na ng higit na pagkakataong maiangat ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay," she said.

"Sa pamamagitan nga po ng batas na ito, namumuhunan tayo sa edukasyon ng kabataan, pati na sa kalusugan, at kinabukasan ng ating mga kababayan na matagal nang naeetsapuwera ng pamahalaan. Patuloy po sana tayong magtulungan para sa tapat at epektibong pagpapatupad ng batas na ito, she added.

Last April 17, President Duterte has reportedly signed Republic Act No. 11310 which provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, improve their health, nutrition, and the education of their children aged 0-18.

De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, also acknowledged the leaders and groups who exerted their efforts and lent their voices to advocate for 4Ps and push for its immediate enactment into law.

"Nagkaroon na ng katotohanan ang pangarap ng mga nasa laylayan na maisabatas ang 4Ps dahil sa hindi matatawarang dedikasyon ng ilang leaders at grupo, partikular na ang Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilyang Pantawid (SNPP), na nagsulong para maipasa ang batas na ito," she said.

It may be recalled that prior to the enactment of 4Ps bill, the SNPP submitted to Senate Committee more than 500,000 signatures endorsing Senate Bill 2117, also known as the 4Ps bill, last year.

Among the notable personalities who advocated for 4Ps also include Senator Antonio Trillanes III, who was designated as the Committee's Vice Chair for purposes of tackling several bills, and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and Rep. Tom Villarin.

SB 2117 has been approved on third and final reading at the Senate last February with 18 votes, zero negative vote and no abstention. Its counterpart measure, House Bill No. 7773, was also approved at the House of Representatives last August.

Now RA No. 11310, the law provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve their health, nutrition and access to education.

Under the law, the Department of Social Welfare and Development shall conduct and revalidate qualified beneficiaries using a standard targeting system every three years. Farmers, fisherfolks, and those in the informal sector and in disadvantaged areas shall be automatically included in the standardized targeting by the household-beneficiary.

Upon its effectivity, a Congressional Oversight Committee referred to as the 4Ps Oversight Committee will be created to set the overall framework to review the implementation of the law to determine any gap or weakness and recommend necessary remedial legislation if necessary.