The House of Representatives is moving to amend the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) law to raise monthly cash grants for education, health care, and nutrition, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos said.
Marcos said he has informed House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III that the House Committee on Appropriations is already reviewing the budgetary requirements of the proposed measure.
“Passing a consolidated 4Ps bill is important to strengthen support for education, health, and nutrition. It will help the government provide more sustained assistance to Filipino households,” Marcos said.
“We want to strengthen social protection for the country’s low-income households,” he added.
The House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, chaired by Pampanga 2nd District Representative and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has approved a substitute bill consolidating nine proposals seeking to amend Republic Act No. 11310, or the 4Ps law.
Under the measure, education grants will be increased to ₱500 per month for daycare and elementary pupils, ₱700 for junior high school students, and ₱900 for senior high school students, from the current ₱300, ₱500, and ₱700, respectively. These grants will be given for 10 months each year.
The annual health grant will also be raised from ₱750 to ₱1,800. Children with disabilities will receive an additional ₱400 monthly to help address higher medical and care needs.
The proposal further introduces a ₱1,100 monthly food and nutrition grant and institutionalizes a First 1,000 Days cash grant of ₱400 per month for children aged zero to two, aimed at supporting what lawmakers described as “the most critical stage of child development.”
The bill also shortens the review period for grant levels and program outcomes from six years to every three years.
It has been referred to the House Committee on Appropriations to ensure sufficient and predictable funding for the expanded benefits.