House institutionalizes cash transfer program

THE House of Representatives, voting 196-6, approved on Wednesday, August 29, the measure that seeks to institutionalize the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

House bill 7773 seeks to alleviate the plight of the poor as it mandates the provision of a lumpsum conditional cash transfer to be received by each qualified household-beneficiary equivalent to P2,200 per month or P26,400 every year.

It mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development to select qualified households which will benefit from the program.

Under the bill, the program shall be implemented until it has covered 60 percent of the total number of the extremely poor households in the Philippines, to be determined by the Philippine Statistics Aut hor i t y.

The beneficiaries shall comply with the following conditions as a requirement for continued program eligibility:

- Children aged 0 to 5 must receive regular preventive health checkups and vaccinations.

- Children aged 1 to 18 must avail of deworming pills at least twice a year.

- Children aged 3 to 4 must attend day care or pre-school classes at least 85% of the school year.

- Children aged 5 to 18 must attend elementary or secondary classes at least 85% of the school year.

- Pregnant women must avail of pre- and post-natal care as well as give birth with the assistance of a trained health care professional in a health facility.

- At least one “responsible person” must attend family development sessions conducted by DSWD at least once a month.

- At least one “responsible person” must either complete at least two skills training programs recognized by the government or be engaged in livelihood activities.

The bill was introduced by Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, among others.

The 4Ps is the antipoverty program launched by the Aquino administration in 2008. (Keith A. Calayag/ SunStar Philippines)