Problems with the country’s cash aid program should be fixed by making changes, not by stopping the program, said Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on Monday.
She was reacting to Sen. Erwin Tulfo’s comments about the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). De Lima said the program is not perfect and has some problems in how it is being done.
However, she said that the problems in the program can’t be fixed just by ending the law.
“Yes, there are problems in how the program is done. Yes, some people have misused it. But that’s exactly why we need to make it stronger, not remove it,” she said. “We need to improve how we choose families, how we check the program, and how we give help — not leave behind the millions of families who need this to live, recover, and start again.”
She also said, “As the main author of the law that made 4Ps official, I truly believe in its good effects. Over 1.5 million families have moved out of poverty through 4Ps, as the President said in his speech. That’s not a failure — that’s success we should continue.”
De Lima said that Sen. Tulfo’s concerns can be solved through House Bill No. 1434, called the Expanded 4Ps Act, which she introduced. This plan will not only give money to poor families but also offer training programs to help them get ready to leave the program in the future.
“Now that I’m back in Congress, I am working on House Bill No. 1434 or the Expanded 4Ps Act,” she said. “This plan will give more help to families — not just money, but also adult education, job training, help finding work, and support for starting small businesses. It’s not just giving help for now, but helping them earn for the future.”
“This is the kind of future we want to see: where government help doesn’t make people feel weak, but strong. Where people who get help today can help others tomorrow. Where government programs guide people forward, not hold them back,” she added.
Tulfo, who used to lead the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said last Friday that it might be time to review the law that made the 4Ps program official.
He said there are reports that some people still get money from the government even though their lives have already improved.
“The president wants the program to be checked, because some people have taken advantage of it,” Tulfo said.
According to the DSWD website, there were 721,083 families receiving help from the 4Ps program as of March 13, 2024.
This is not the first time Tulfo has shared his concerns about the 4Ps program. In November 2022, when he was the social welfare secretary, he said the program works but needs some changes.
During a meeting of the Commission on Appointments, Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked Tulfo what he thought about the 4Ps. He answered that the program might need to be reviewed.
De Lima said that people who get help from 4Ps are not just getting free money. She explained that they have to follow certain rules to receive the cash support. If there are problems with those rules, she said they should be fixed, not used as a reason to stop the program.
“This program is not just giving away money. Families must meet conditions to receive help, which is why it’s called the Conditional Cash Transfer Program. It is built on shared responsibility — between the government and every Filipino family that wants to escape poverty,” she said.
“4Ps is not perfect, but we should not stop a program that has a good purpose and has already helped many people,” she said. “There are clear ways to make it better. A good government admits mistakes and works to fix them. That is the kind of leadership I want and support,” she added.
