De Lima hails signing of 4Ps rules, says it'll benefit 4.8-M families

Senator Leila M. de Lima is elated over today's signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11310 institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as an anti-poverty program for qualified poor Filipino families.

In her message read by her Chief-of-Staff Fhillip Sawali during the signing of 4Ps Act's IRR, De Lima said she is honored to spearhead the passage of this measure under the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development she chaired during the 17th Congress.

"Nakikiisa po ako sa inyong lahat sa mahalagang araw na ito - ang paglagda ng Implementing Rules and Regulations ng RA 11310 - 4Ps Act. Ito'y isa na namang tagumpay sa lahat ng tagataguyod ng pagsasabatas ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)," she said.

"After almost five years, the 17th Congress finally passed this measure in 2018. This would not be possible without support of the Senate leadership and the eight authors of the bill in the Upper Chamber, including my dear colleague Senator Ralph Recto as principal author of the bill," she added.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) held the ceremonial signing of the 4Ps Act's IRR at Park Inn Radisson in Quezon City, attended by key officials from national government agencies, international development partners, and other key Pantawid Pamilya program stakeholders and beneficiaries.

The 4Ps Act, which was signed by President Duterte last April 17, provides conditional cash grants to an estimated 4.8 million qualified indigent families for a maximum of seven years to improve their health, nutrition, and the education of their children aged 0-18.

As the principal sponsor of the 4Ps bill in the Senate, De Lima sought the invaluable inputs from various local government units and other stakeholders to ensure the measure's successful signing into law.

De Lima, who shared her and her colleagues' feat with their counterparts in the House of Representatives, also acknowledged the efforts of Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilyang Pantawid (SNPP) in tirelessly advocating for the 4Ps Act.

"Let me [a]cknowledge the efforts of one of the inspirations and drivers of this effort to institutionalize the 4Ps: Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilyang Pantawid or SNPP who closely worked with us, and who tirelessly and relentlessly advocated for this law. Masayang-masaya po akong kasama kayo sa labang ito," she said.

The lady Senator from Bicol maintained that 4Ps Act is capable of making tangible and lasting interventions in the lives of its beneficiaries and empower them to achieve the quality of lives that they deserve because it enhances opportunities, such as employment and livelihood, to qualified indigent Filipinos.

"Napakahalaga ng batas na ito. Tunay itong makakatulong sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan sa iba't ibang dako ng bansa na maitaas ang antas ng kanilang buhay, na isang malaking hakbang sa paglunas ng kahirapan," she said.

"More than any regular infrastructure investment, I strongly believe in this program because we invest in our people - in their family's health, in the education of their children and in development programs that will uplift them towards a better life that everyone deserves," she added.

De Lima said she considers the 4Ps Act as "4Ps Version 3.0," saying that the official institutionalization of 4Ps as one of regular government anti-poverty programs came with necessary reforms in program implementation.

"We broaden the sectors covered by the program, designed a more responsive cash grant scheme, put in place a streamlined and clear system of inter-agency coordination, and promote transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in the program, among others," she shared.