Gov’t aid not meant to promote life of dependency – Marcos

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MANILA, Philippines — The government will not promote a life of dependency, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in his New Year’s Eve video message posted on Facebook.

Marcos explained that most government programs were not mere safety nets, but they adopted there to help people rise from poverty.

“Our social programs provide welfare armor to the vulnerable, but they also provide the means for them to overcome the very state that they find themselves in. Thus, most ayudas [aid] are not a type of permanent welfare, because we do not promote a life of dependency,” said Marcos.

“The objective is to graduate from poverty,” he added.

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According to Marcos, these assistance programs include the Free College Program, Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients, and Assistance to Individuals In Crisis Situation Program.

“They are the scaffolds upon which one can climb from where they find themselves now,” said Marcos.