The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) expects that approximately 500,000 household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will graduate by the end of 2024.
The graduating households are recognized as those who have successfully transitioned out of poverty, said 4Ps Social Marketing Division Chief Marie Grace Ponce during the 8th episode of the DSWD online program “4Ps Fastbreak” on Oct. 30.
“Inaasahan natin na sila yung makasasama natin sa pagputol sa walang katapusang siklo ng kahirapan (We hope they will join us in breaking the endless cycle of poverty),” she said.
Ponce explained that these households have been assessed to be self-sufficient.
“Ibig sabihin, kaya na nila tugunan lahat ng kanilang mga pangangailangan, magkaroon man ng krisis ay mayroon silang mapagkukunan, at hindi na sila mahihirapan na tugunan ang pangangailangan ng kanilang mga anak sa pag-aaral at maging sa kalusugan (This means they can now meet all their needs, and even during a crisis, they have resources available. They will no longer struggle to provide for their children's education and health),” she said.
According to Republic Act (RA) 11310, known as the 4Ps Act, the program provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum of seven years.
Ponce said that during those seven years, the families are part of the case management process.
“Mayroong inihahanda na plano para sa mga pamilya mula sa kanilang pagpasok at syempre hanggang doon sa kanilang paglabas para masiguro na hindi masasayang yung pitong taon na ii-invest ng ating pamahalaan, ng ating partners, at mayroon mapupuntahan itong mga pamilya na ito—mababago, maaayos, at mapapaunlad natin ang kanilang pamumuhay (There is a plan being prepared for these families from the time they enter the program until they exit to ensure that the seven years invested by our government and partners are not wasted, and that these families will experience meaningful change and improvement in their lives),” she added.
In addition to reaching the seven-year limit and reaching self-sufficiency, Rule XV, Section 35 of the implementing rules and regulations of the 4Ps Law states the other reasons for beneficiaries to exit the program. These include the last child in the household turning 18 or completing high school, voluntary withdrawal, and violations leading to penalties or removal from the program.
Launched in 2008 and institutionalized by RA 11310 in 2019, the 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program designed to provide conditional cash transfer to poor households to improve their children’s health, nutrition, and education.