Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian was pleased with the recognition expressed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr on the gains of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) saying it is a morale booster for both beneficiaries and program implementers.

“We thank the President for this recognition of the accomplishments of the program in breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Also, inviting the two former 4Ps monitored children, now topnotchers, to this significant national event is a proof that the President gives weight to the positive impact of the program. This gesture does not only inspire our beneficiaries but also our program implementers,” Secretary Gatchalian said after listening to the President’s 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday (July 22)

In his well-applauded speech, President Marcos highlighted the accomplishments of 4Ps in helping the beneficiaries rise from poverty and gave a spotlight on the 4,000 former monitored children who are now licensed teachers, as well on the many board exam topnotchers, with two of them even invited as guests to his SONA.

“With the noble aim of breaking the cycle of poverty across the country, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program has not only consistently accomplished its annual targets, but has proven its efficacy over the years,” the President said in his speech.

The Chief Executive also proudly  reported in his SONA that 420,000 families have already exited from the 4Ps and have achieved an improved quality of life through the program.

The President received a big round of applause when he acknowledged the presence of Teacher Khane Jevie Cervantes of Davao Oriental, who secured the top spot in the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers in March, and Engr. Alexis Alegado of Ilocos Norte who also topped the Civil Engineering Board examination last year.

The DSWD chief stressed that the achievement of the former monitored children serves as an inspiration for the Department to continue supporting the education of children of 4Ps households.

Secretary Gatchalian reiterated that the DSWD will continue to invest in human capital which is one of the keys to improving the productivity of one’s self.

“Alam niyo iyong vision ng ating Pangulo, noong tumatakbo siya ay humubog  ng isang bansa na ekslusibo, walang maiiwanan. Alam niyo napakaganda nong economic plan ng ating Pangulo, napakaraming trabaho na nililikha pero importante ang mamuhunan tayo sa tao, mamuhunan tayo sa human capital natin na 110 milyong Pilipino, yan ang asset natin,” Secretary Gatchalian said in a pre-SONA interview over PTV-4.

The DSWD’s 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven (7) years, to improve health, nutrition and education.

“There is a misconception that 4Ps is ayuda. On the contrary, it is a development program that aims to break intergenerational poverty o yung kahirapan na nasasalin sa mga anak. Eradicating poverty is a long game. The directive of President Marcos is for a whole-of- government, whole-of-nation approach in bringing down the poverty incidence to single digit by the end of his term in 2028,” Secretary Gatchalian explained.

The 4Ps, which was launched in 2008 and institutionalized in 2019 through Republic Act No. 11310 or the 4Ps Act, provides cash grants to 4.4 million households (equivalent to 22 million individuals) whose children are given subsidies to finish elementary and senior high school.

Household beneficiaries of 4Ps are classified as poor and near-poor based on the Standardized Targeting System and the poverty threshold issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) at the time of selection; have members who are aged zero (0) to eighteen (18) years old or have members who are pregnant at the time of registration; and, are willing to comply with a set of conditions.

As of May 31, there are 4.3 million household-beneficiaries nationwide that are receiving conditional cash grants under the anti-poverty program.#