Congressman Sam “SV” Verzosa Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — Tutok to Win Party-list Rep. Sam “SV” Verzosa Jr. said efforts to amend the 4Ps law should lead to making it “inclusive” by providing education, entrepreneurship, livelihood, and economic opportunities for all impoverished Filipinos.
Verzosa led deliberations of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the House committee on poverty alleviation on the substitute bill, which was approved by the panel on Tuesday, February 7.
“Kailangan gawin nating inclusive ang ating mga entrepreneurship, livelihood, and economic opportunities. Dapat kasama pati ‘yung mga poorest sectors of society, ‘yung mga tinatawag na isang kahig-isang tuka. Kung kulang ang kanilang pinag-aralan, dapat may alternative learning systems tayo para matulungan sila. Kailangan natin silang maihanda sa paghanap ng employment,” he said.
He also led consultations with the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilyang Pilipino (SNPP) and various government agencies over amendments to the Expanded 4Ps Law.
The substitute bill is titled “An Act Promoting Inclusive Education, Entrepreneurship, and Employment for Sustainable Development among 4Ps Adult Beneficiaries, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 11310, otherwise known as An Act Institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).” Its short title is “Expanded Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act.”
It is expected to create education, entrepreneurship, livelihood, and economic opportunities for 4Ps beneficiaries, according to Verzosa.
Citing the most recent data reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the lawmaker said that the country’s GDP expanded by 7.6% in 2022. This is the second highest growth rate, next only to the 8.8% economic growth rate recorded in 1976, he claimed.
“Pero sa labas ng Batasan, kahit saan tayo pumunta marami pa rin tayong makikitang mga kababayan nating Pilipino na naghihirap. Kaya natutuwa ako na aprubado na sa committee ang Expanded 4Ps Law na isang effective na paraan para maging inclusive ang economic growth natin at mas maraming Pilipino pa ang umasenso,” he added.
Among the amendments in the Expanded 4Ps Law aim to increase the number of 4Ps recipients and provide skills training to adult 4Ps beneficiaries through non-formal education track, employment track, and entrepreneurship track. Providing post-skills interventions to help adult 4Ps beneficiaries to look for jobs or put up businesses is also among the proposed amendments.
There are an estimated 4.2 million recipients of 4Ps at present, according to Verzosa.
He said the deliberation was attended by panelists from the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Anti-Poverty Commission, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Philippine Statistics Authority, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
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