The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) has expressed support for four Senate bills seeking to expand and strengthen the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), describing the move as a crucial step toward breaking the cycle of poverty.
In a statement issued Friday, the commission said the proposed amendments align with the government’s broader goal of helping low-income families transition into “economically independent citizens.” The measures were taken up during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development.
Among the proposed measures is Senate Bill 1344, which aims to establish the 4Ps Parent Leaders’ Adult Education Program. The initiative would provide free adult education through the Department of Education, TESDA, and CHED, covering basic education, skills training, and pathways to higher education or entrepreneurship.
Participants would receive a monthly allowance of at least ₱500, with enrollment remaining voluntary and separate from existing cash grants.
Senate Bill 1487, or the Expanded 4Ps (E4Ps) Act, seeks to extend program support, increase cash grants, and raise the child eligibility age to 22 to include higher education. It also proposes additional subsidies, expanded coverage to vulnerable households, and stronger grievance and post-program support systems.
Senate Bill 2496 focuses on integrating livelihood and entrepreneurship assistance into the 4Ps framework, aiming to help beneficiaries transition beyond financial aid by linking them to job opportunities and income-generating activities.
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 302, or the 4Ps for Disaster Victims Act, proposes amendments to Republic Act 11310 to include families affected by natural or man-made disasters, ensuring continued support for those who lose their livelihoods.
Andre Niccolo Tayag, representing the NAPC Office of the Lead Convenor, welcomed the expansion but emphasized that reforms should go beyond subsidies.
In its position paper, the commission stressed that the program “should focus on transforming beneficiaries into economically independent citizens while ensuring that the program’s human capital development objectives are achieved.”
The NAPC added that the proposed bills serve as mechanisms for asset reform under Republic Act 8425, equipping marginalized households with resources and human capital needed for long-term stability.
The 4Ps, the government’s flagship anti-poverty initiative, provides conditional cash transfers to low-income households to improve health, nutrition, and education outcomes, and remains central to the country’s poverty reduction strategy.