If it would have its way, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would increase the cash aid or "ayuda" that it gives to beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.
But it simply does not have the funds to implement such increase, said its budget sponsor Negros Oriental 1st district Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong on Friday, Sept. 22.
Speaking during the plenary debates on the P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2024, Limkaichong bared that the Pantawid Pamilya National Advisory Committee (NAC) “unanimously approved or agreed to that proposal of an increase".
The 4Ps law currently provides conditional cash transfer grants of at least ₱300 per month per child for a maximum of 10 months per year for children enrolled in day care and elementary programs, at least ₱500 per month per child for up to 10 months per year for children enrolled in junior high school, and at least ₱700 per month per child for up to 10 months per year for senior high school.
The 4Ps is the flagship poverty alleviation program of the national government.
According to Limkaichong, the DSWD had already discussed the matter with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
DSWD budget interpellator AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee noted during the plenary discussion that due to the double whammy of the Covid-19 pandemic and inflation, "The P31,200 maximum amount that the 4Ps household can receive in a year have been reduced in value to only P14,524."
Lee said the data came from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
“Naniniwala po ako na dapat agaran nang taasan ang cash grant para masigurong sapat ang tulong na ating naipagkakaloob sa mga kababayan nating nasa dulo ng ating lipunan, para makabangon sila mula sa epekto ng pandemya at nagtataasang presyo ng mga bilihin,” stated Lee.
(I believe that the cash grant should be immediately increased to ensure that we're giving enough assistance to the people in the fringes of our society, to help them rise from the effects of the pandemic and skyrocketing prices of goods.)
Upon his questioning, DSWD also confirmed that the resumption of payout can start in October this year.
Limkaichong said that the money for the sought cash assistance hike could be sourced from unprogrammed funds, but only if there's a special provision in the national budget.
"Nasa atin na yan (It's up to us in Congress) if we want to increase it by putting a special provision to allow the increase or the additional augmentation through a special provision (that it can) be taken from the unprogrammed funds," she said.
For this purpose, she said the DSWD can “submit the resolution of the council approving the increase".
By then, the ball will have been "in the hands now of Congress whether to put it under the unprogrammed fund".
The House is expected to approved the 2024 GAB on third and final reading next week, possibly on Sept. 27.
