The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was pleased with the results of the latest survey commissioned by the Stratbase Group from Pulse Asia and Social Weather Station (SWS), which showed four agency programs have “improved the financial stability of Filipinos belonging to the lower social class.”
“This validation from the people strengthens our resolve to further improve our social welfare programs and services and ensure that no Filipino is left behind,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said on Tuesday (February 11).
The surveys, commissioned by the Stratbase Group, gauged public opinion on various government social welfare programs, including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), which are all under the DSWD.
The SWS survey, conducted from January 17 to 20, 2025, interviewed 1,800 respondents with a ±2% margin of error, while the Pulse Asia survey, conducted from January 18 to 25, 2025, interviewed 2,400 respondents with the same ±2% margin of error.
Among the most impactful programs is the 4Ps, which 90% of Filipinos found helpful, according to the SWS. Pulse Asia supports this with 82% of respondents saying 4Ps improves the financial stability of lower-income families.
Other social protection programs also gained strong approval ratings.
The AKAP program was considered beneficial by 81% of Filipinos, a figure mirrored in both the SWS and Pulse Asia surveys.
The Walang Gutom Program (WGP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, was also deemed helpful by 81% of respondents, while the AICS program registered an 80% approval rating.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao emphasized that these findings reflect the impact of targeted social protection programs in uplifting marginalized communities.
“We reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening and expanding these initiatives, ensuring that more Filipinos in need can access necessary assistance,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
Launched in 2008 and institutionalized by Republic Act (RA) 11310 in 2019, the 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 years to improve their children’s health, nutrition, and education.
As part of its enhancements, the DSWD is adding the First 1,000 Days (F1KD) of Life conditional cash grant under 4Ps starting 2025.
The (F1KD) grant aims to cover essential health and nutrition expenses of pregnant mothers or parents with young children during this critical period of a child’s life. A monthly health grant worth Php350 will be granted to female 4Ps beneficiaries who are pregnant and households that have children from 0 to 2 years old.
The AKAP is a program intended to provide targeted social assistance and safety nets for low-income earners whose purchasing power has been eroded due to inflation.
The AKAP program is set for a conditional implementation in 2025, subject to the issuance of new and stricter guidelines, as conveyed in the veto message of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr when he signed the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2025 last December 30.
The Walang Gutom Program aims to bring down the incidence of involuntary hunger experienced by Filipinos from low-income households. It also promotes social and behavioral change among food-poor families by teaching them how to prepare nutritious, delicious, and affordable meals.
The AICS program is part of the DSWD’s protective services for the poor, marginalized and vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals through the provision of medical assistance, burial, transportation, education, food, or financial assistance for other support services or needs of a person or family.
“Moving forward, the DSWD vowed to further enhance our program implementation, streamline processes, and explore additional measures to address poverty and economic hardship across the country,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out. (YADP)
Tagalog Version
4 na programa ng DSWD nakapagpabuti sa estado ng kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino- SWS, Pulse Asia survey
Ikinagalak ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang naging resulta ng survey na kinomisyon ng Stratbase Group ng Pulse Asia and Social Weather Station (SWS), kung saan apat sa mga programa ng ahensya ang sinasabing umangat ang financial stability ng mga Pilipinong nasa mababang antas ng lipunan.
“This validation from the people strengthens our resolve to further improve our social welfare programs and services and ensure that no Filipino is left behind,” sabi ni DSWD Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao.
Ang nasabing survey na kinomisyon ng Stratbase Group, ang sumukat sa isinagawang pampublikong opinyon sa iba’t-ibang social welfare program ng gobyerno kabilang na ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Walang Gutom Program (WGP) at Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), na pawang nasa ilalim ng mga programa ng DSWD.
Ang SWS survey ay isinagawa nitong January 17 hanggang January 20, 2025, kung saan may 1,800 respondents ang na-interview at may ±2% margin of error, habang ang Pulse Asia survey naman ay ginanap nitong January 18 hanggang January 25, 2025,na may 2,400 respondents at may kaparehong ±2% margin of error.
Nakapagtala ng pinakamataas na rating sa survey ang 4Ps, na may 90% ng mga Pilipino ang nagsasabing nakabuti sa kanila, ayon sa SWS habang 82% ng mga respondents ng Pulse Asia ang nagsabing gumanda ang kanilang financial stability.
Nagkamit din ng mataas na approval ratings ang iba pang mga programa ng DSWD.
Samantala, ang AKAP program ay kinukunsiderang nakakainam kung saan may 81% sa mga Pilipino ang nagsabi sa SWS at Pulse Asia surveys.
Habang ang Walang Gutom Program (WGP), na may 81% ng mga respondents ang nagsabing nakakatulong at ang AICS program na may 80% approval rating.
“We reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening and expanding these initiatives, ensuring that more Filipinos in need can access necessary assistance,” sabi ng tagapagsalita ng DSWD.
Kaugnay nito, bilang parte ng pagpapalakas ng programa, sinimulan na ngayong taon ang First 1,000 Days (F1KD) of Life conditional cash grant.
Ang (F1KD) grant ay naglalayong magbigay ng dagdag na tulong pinansyal para sa health and nutrition expenses ng mga buntis at lactating mothers. Karagdagang Php350 ang ibibigay para sa mga babaeng buntis na 4Ps beneficiaries at may anak na 0 to 2 years old.
Ang AKAP naman ay isang programa ng ahensya na para sa mga nasa low income wage earners at mga apektado ng pagtaas ng bilihin o inflation.
Habang layon naman ng Walang Gutom Program na malunasan ang kagutuman na nararanasan ng mga mahihirap na Pilipino. Nagbibigay ang programa ng mga libreng pagkain na masustansya.
Ang AICS program ay parte naman ng serbisyo ng DSWD para sa mga poor, marginalized, vulnerable at disadvantaged individuals. Nagbibigay ito ng medical assistance, burial, transportation, education, food, o financial assistance upang suportahan ang mga pangangailangan ng bawat indibidwal.
“Moving forward, the DSWD vowed to further enhance our program implementation, streamline processes, and explore additional measures to address poverty and economic hardship across the country,” dagdag pa ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.# (MVC)
