Sen. Leila de Lima (Photo from her Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — The enactment of a measure institutionalizing conditional cash grants is a victory for poor Filipinos, according to Sen. Leila de Lima on Wednesday.
The government has been providing the cash grants under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program — or 4Ps — since 2008 under the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
De Lima said the enactment of Senate Bill No. 2117, of which she was the author and principal sponsor, into Republic Act No. 11310 was a big step in getting social justice for the marginalized sector.
READ: Republic Act No. 11310
“Tagumpay po ito, lalo na ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan na mabibigyan na ng higit na pagkakataong maiangat ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay,” De Lima said in a statement written from her detention cell in Camp Crame.
[This is a victory, especially for our poor countrymen, who will now be given a big chance to raise their level of life.]
“Lubos tayong nagpapasalamat sa pagiging ganap nang batas ng isinusulong nating pagpapatibay at pagpapalawak sa serbisyong hatid ng 4Ps,” she added.
[We are grateful that what we have been pushing for in strengthening and widening the service offered by the 4Ps has become a law]
According to Malacañang, President Rodrigo Duterte signed R.A. 11310 last April 17, but copies were only released to the media on Wednesday.
READ: Duterte signs 4Ps law
Under the new law, the poorest of the poor subsidized by the 4Ps will receive aid for a maximum of seven years.
“Sa pamamagitan nga po ng batas na ito, namumuhunan tayo sa edukasyon ng kabataan, pati na sa kalusugan, at kinabukasan ng ating mga kababayan na matagal nang naeetsapuwera ng pamahalaan,” the senator explained. “Patuloy po sana tayong magtulungan para sa tapat at epektibong pagpapatupad ng batas na ito.”
[Through this law, we are investing in the education of the youth, as well as in the health and future of our countrymen who have been ignored by the government. I hope we can continue to cooperate in enforcing this law earnestly and effectively.]
R.A. 11310 mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to revalidate qualified beneficiaries every three years, using a standard targeting system.
Farmers, fisherfolk, and those in the informal sector and disadvantaged areas will automatically be included in the targeting system.
A total of P88 billion was allocated for the 4Ps this year, which is included in the 2019 national budget.
Aside from these, a congressional oversight committee will also be created to craft a framework that will be used to review the implementation of the law and check its possible weaknesses and recommend remedial legislation if necessary.
Prior to its enactment, the bill hurdled the third and final reading at the Senate in February 2019, with all 18 senators present voting for its passage. It was approved at the House of Representatives last August 2018.
De Lima also thanked people supported the legislation, especially volunteers who pushed for its immediate enactment.
“Nagkaroon na ng katotohanan ang pangarap ng mga nasa laylayan na maisabatas ang 4Ps dahil sa hindi matatawarang dedikasyon ng ilang leaders at grupo, partikular na ang Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilyang Pantawid (SNPP), na nagsulong para maipasa ang batas na ito,” she noted.
[The marginalized people have seen the realization of their hope of having the 4Ps law enacted due to the dedication of some leaders and groups, particularly the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilyang Pantawid, who worked for the passage of this law.]0
(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)