Rep. Verzosa pushes food, transpo stipend for adult 4Ps beneficiaries on skills training

@rodrik_28

FOLLOWING the recent approval of the substitute bill expanding the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Tutok To Win party-list Rep. Sam Verzosa Jr. bared that they are pushing for additional help to adult recipients of this government initiative.

“Madagdagan pa lalo ’yung suporta namin don sa mga nakakatanggap ng 4Ps [We will increase our support to recipients of 4Ps],” he told the Businessmirror in a sideline interview during the media launch on Tuesday of his new public service show, “Dear SV,” on CNN Philippines.

Verzosa said they are proposing for an extra conditional cash grant of P500 to be given to those who will undergo skills training through nonformal education, employment, and entrepreneurship courses.

“Kap aggi na wa ni lay an, bibig’ y anna tin si lang allowance—[sa] pamasahe’t pagkain [Once they do that, we will give them an allowance for fare and food],” he said.

The lawmaker led the deliberations of the Technical Working Group of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation on the substitute bill, titled: “An Act Promoting Inclusive Education, Entrepreneurship, and Employment for Sustainable Development among 4Ps Adult Beneficiaries,” which was green lighted by the panel last February 7.

A spin-off of House Bill (HB) No. 2422 filed by Parañaque Second District Rep. Gus Tambunting and HB No. 4366 by Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee, amends the purpose of Republic Act No. 11310, otherwise known as “An Act Institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program [4Ps].”

Shortly called the “Expanded Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program [4Ps] Act,” the substitute bill is expected to create education, entrepreneurship, livelihood, and economic opportunities for the beneficiaries of 4Ps considered the “poorest of the poor” nationwide.

Per the latest Philippine Statistics Authority data, the country’s gross domestic product increased by 7.6 percent in 2022—the second highest growth rate after the 8.8 percent recorded in 1976.

Amid this development, however, the representative of Tutok To Win Party-list noted that there are Filipinos who still live below the poverty line.

That’s why he was appreciative of the committee for their approval of the Expanded 4Ps law, which aims to increase the number of 4Ps recipients and to provide skills training to adult beneficiaries via its non-formal education, employment, and entrepreneurship tracks.

At present, there are approximately 4.2 million individual 4Ps recipients. Apart from monetary assistance, it will also give postskills interventions to help adult beneficiaries in their jobs search or business endeavors.

“Ngayon, gusto natin magkaroon ng alternative learning systems, magkaroon ng livelihood programs, at magkaroon ng mga programa para sa employment [Now, we want to have alternative learning systems, livelihood programs, and employment programs],” Verzosa Jr. said, while citing that these could be of help to them to eventually fend off for themselves rather than depend on dole outs from the government.