Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to continue the government’s Balik Probinsya (BP) program given the difficult situation many provincial migrants face in Metro Manila specially during the pandemic.

Go made the call during the Senate’s hearing on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) budget last Wednesday, where he sought updates on two of the major welfare programs of the government, the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

As one of the main proponents of the BP2 program, Go said the program aims to promote employment and livelihood opportunities in the countryside in order to boost regional development consistent with the long-term goals of the program that is set to be fully implemented after the COVID-19 crisis. 

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian affirmed the program's effectiveness and the government's commitment to continue the BP2 program.

“This is a very good program that we inherited, that we planned to keep and, in fact, use all the time. For the record, we were able to serve, for 2023, 2, 426 out of the 4,572 families targeted,” Gatchalian told senators during the hearing.

Gatchalian said the government appropriated P3.5 billion for the program but only about P1 billion or 29 percent of the funds had been spent.

But the DSWD, he said, has plans to expand the program to include other types of interventions for families living in the streets. 

“The BP2 is something that we want to expand, to include other types of intervention that we can use for the families living in the streets,” the DSWD chief added.

While local government units (LGUs) also have responsibilities, the DSWD has initiated a mainstay program to aid these families, including street dwellers and beggars, Gatchalian said.

As soon as they return to their provinces, they receive community livelihood grants, which are monitored by the LGUs.

Asked by Go where these individuals are temporarily housed, Gatchalian explained that the goal is not to keep them in housing facilities but to help them return to their provinces.

Go also urged the DSWD to enhance the standard benefits for beneficiaries of the 4Ps program.

When asked about the number of 4Ps members, Gatchalian pointed out that the number is capped at 4.4 million families due to budget constraints, as expressed in the GAA.

The Secretary also explained there are conditions under which families "graduate" from the program. 

According to Gatchalian, families may leave the program if they reach the seven-year limit, no longer meet the conditions, or fail to attend development sessions.