Senator Bongbong Marcos. AP FILE PHOTO
VICE presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vowed to broaden the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) by covering more poor families and providing the beneficiaries the skills and capacity to improve their lives.
In a statement, Marcos said the 4Ps, which is the government’s direct intervention for poor families, should cater to more qualified households.
Under the program, conditional cash grants are given to the poorest of the poor through the Department of Social Welfare and Development to improve the health, nutrition and the education of children.
“The 4Ps program is a package intervention of the government to help the poor. It should reach out to more qualified families,” he said.
Marcos said that if he wins the vice presidential race, “aside from expanding the coverage of 4Ps, we can implement other programs like ‘cash for work,’ ‘cash for reforestation,’ ‘cash for community service.’”
He pointed out that beneficiaries of the 4Ps should be given employment packages that would complement the program by teaching them new skills.
Complementing the 4Ps
Capacitating the 4Ps beneficiaries, he said, would enable them to find a new sense of purpose and eventually stand on their own.
“The 4Ps should be expanded but we also have to complement it by teaching them new skills to enable them to improve their lives more, find better jobs so that eventually they need not depend on it,” Marcos said.
He stressed that the government should focus on helping poor families who try every possible means to survive.
The vice presidential candidate added that “more programs should be implemented to help those who languish in extreme poverty.”
Environmental regulations
Marcos also sought over the strict regulation on the construction of resorts and other buildings in tourist hubs to preserve ecological balance.
In a statement, Marcos said that taking a tough stance in enforcing environmental regulations will protect the natural beauty of tourist spots and ensure a steady livelihood for residents engaged in tourism-related businesses.