DBM releases extra P5 billion for 4Ps grants

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P5 billion for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has approved the release of the fund to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The additional resource will cover last year’s 4Ps grants in arrears or late payments due to the deactivation or suspension of 4Ps beneficiaries comprising 703,888 households.

The flagship 4Ps program is the national poverty reduction strategy of the government.

“This will help in addressing the impact of inflation to poor Filipinos,” Pangandaman said.

“The DBM will do its part to streamline budget processes so that our citizens benefit from faster and more efficient delivery of essential services such as our 4Ps,” she said.

The funds will be sourced from last year’s continuing appropriations.

In his State of the Nation Address last month, President Marcos said over 420,000 households have graduated from the 4Ps or assessed as self-sufficient.

The program offers conditional cash transfers to poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education.

Data showed the implementation of the 4Ps has covered a total of 3.98 million household beneficiaries across 41,676 barangays in the country. This is roughly 90 percent of the 4.4 million target households of the DSWD.