IRR of Law Institutionalizing 4Ps Signed
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11310, or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act of 2019, together with representatives from eight partner agencies on Monday last week, December 9.
The IRR seeks to institutionalize 4Ps as the national poverty reduction strategy aimed at decreasing the incidence of poverty in the Philippines. 4Ps currently has 4 million household beneficiaries.
Introduced to the public in 2007, 4Ps is a conditional cash transfer program aimed at improving the health, nutrition, and education of poor households by providing cash grants in exchange for compliance with certain conditions set by the government. It mandates the DSWD to select qualified beneficiaries using a standardized targeting system that is revalidated every three years.
According to DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, “By signing this into law, President Rodrigo Duterte has ensured its sustainability and enabled us to get closer to bringing down the incidence of poverty by 14 percent in 2022 from a previous high of 27.6 percent in 2015.”
In accordance with the IRR, 4Ps will now provide ₱750 health grant per month, a significant increase from the previous grant of ₱500 per month. The education grant will be increased to ₱300 per month for each daycare and elementary student, ₱500 per month for every junior high school student and ₱700 per month for those in senior high school.
Additional grants to cover rice and tax subsidies will also be made available.
All these benefits will be provided to the beneficiaries as long as they comply with the conditions set by the program, which include availing pre-natal, birthing, and post-natal medical care, undergoing regular check-ups and vaccinations for children 5 years old and below, deworming, ensuring 85 percent attendance in school, and participating in monthly Family Development Sessions — which are all aimed at improving their quality of life.
