Senate approves institutionalization of 4Ps program

(Eagle News)—The Senate on Monday, Feb. 4, passed on third and final reading a bill that would institutionalize the 4Ps poverty reduction program of the government.

Senate Bill No. 2117, authored by Senator Leila de Lima, was approved with 18 votes,  zero votes against it and zero abstentions.

The 4Ps is an existing national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program under which poor households are given conditional cash for a maximum period of seven years to improve their health, nutrition and access to education.

Under the measure, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will conduct and revalidate qualified beneficiaries every three years.

Considered eligible are those in the informal sector, homeless families, indigenous peoples, amd those living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

“Cutting the cycle of poverty of and giving the poor the ability to improve their lives through the 4Ps program will enable them to contribute to the development of our country,” De Lima, who is also chair of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Development, said.

Senator Antonio Trillanes, who sponsored the measure on behalf of De Lima as panel vice chair, agreed.

He noted that the 4Ps Act that allows for the current implementation of the program so far covers 4.4 million beneficiaries across the country.

“The 4Ps Act can be a transformative program that will improve the lives of not only the 4.4 million beneficiaries across the country it currently serves, but the remaining fraction of poor families we wish to be covered in the coming years,” Trillanes added.