Press Release
September 23, 2015

GUINGONA SEEKS INSTITUTIONALIZED FUNDING OF PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (4PS) THROUGH GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT

SENATOR Teofisto "TG" Guingona III, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, on Tuesday filed Senate Bill No. 2960 to reduce poverty and promote human capital development by institutionalizing the Conditional Cash Transfer Program.

"Since poverty reduction has been the battle cry of previous administrations, the Philippines is never short of poverty alleviation efforts," Guingona explained. "However, the Philippines has been ineffective in preventing the aggravation of poverty increases during recessions or calamities primarily due to inadequate targeting, uncoordinated and fragmented provision of social protection services, and unsound policies."

Guingona's bill seeks to institutionalize the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" (4Ps), which provides social assistance and promotes inclusive growth. It also lobbies for CCT's funding through the General Appropriations Act.

The senator informed that the lack of a law setting in stone the budget and provisions of the program poses the threat of discontinuation of the 4Ps by future administrations. With an estimated 45% of Filipinos teetering on the line of poverty and faced with unemployment, price increase, health problems, death, and natural disasters, a law that secures their access to social safety net programs is nothing short of necessary.

"This is a call to strengthen our indigent people's capacity to withstand the effects of market volatility and income disruption while investing in the improvement of their human capabilities in the long run," Guingona said in earnest.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act of 2015 aims to improve preventive health care of pregnant women and young children; increase enrollment and attendance of children in elementary and high school; reduce incidence of child labor, improve maternal health, and encourage parents to invest in their own and their children's future and to participate in the growth and development of young children and the community.

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