President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. presided over his third Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, July 19, focusing on education and social welfare matters.
In a short video of the Cabinet meeting posted on Radio Television Malacañang Facebook page, Marcos said they will be briefed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo.
“Today, we will be briefed by Secretary VP Inday on her plans for the DepEd (Department of Education). Following that will be Secretary Erwin who will give us a rundown on the DSWD,” Marcos said before the video was cut.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said that priority programs and projects for basic education and social welfare were discussed during the meeting.
She said Tulfo has reported that under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), at least 1.3 million beneficiaries out of 4.4 million are no longer considered “poor” as a qualification for the 4Ps benefits.
"This frees up P15 billion for other qualified persons to replace them and now be included in the said program," Angeles said.
The meeting came days after Marcos completed his seven-day mandatory isolation after he contracted Covid-19.
After the Cabinet meeting, the President led the oath taking of Ma. Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).