House probe urged on P13-B cut in 4Ps budget last year

Quezon 2nd District Rep. David Suarez (Photo from his Facebook page)

House Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez on Wednesday called on his colleagues to investigate the effects of the P13-billion budget slash in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) supposedly initiated by Sen. Imee Marcos who realigned the funds to other social welfare programs.

“Since she herself has admitted it, now the question is, how many millions of Filipinos were affected because of the budget cut? It would also appear that this did not happen in 2023 alone,” said Suarez.

This was echoed by 4PS party list Rep. Jonathan Clement Abalos II, who said that “several 4Ps beneficiaries suffered because of this budget cut … It should be investigated.”

READ: Imee Marcos’ budget realigning led to millions not receiving 4Ps — Bongalon

Their calls followed Ako Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon’s claims that 4.3 million Filipinos did not receive cash grants totaling P13 billion from 4Ps last year after Marcos, the sponsor for the Department of Social Welfare and Development budget, redirected these funds to another social amelioration program.

Abalos said these cuts led to “considerable delay in giving the cash grant to the beneficiaries.”

According to him, “2023 was a crucial year because if you look at the GAA, we also had to pay out our dues to 4Ps beneficiaries from 2017 and 2018. We do not want the same mistake of having delays in cash grants,” he added, referring to the General Appropriations Act.

Marcos earlier raised questions about the House’s AKAP or Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program, saying the funds could have been used to encourage people to sign a petition seeking a people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution.