By NG Seruela
The poverty incidence in the Philippines has dropped under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s administration from 23.3% in 2015 to 16.6% in 2018.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Rolando Bautista reported on Wednesday (July 14) about the improved and strengthened social protection system under the current administration.
Speaking at the Pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address) Forum along with other cabinet secretaries in the human development and poverty reduction cluster, Bautista said the government ensures the expanded and immediate distribution of social protection packages such as labor market interventions, social insurance, social assistance, and social safety nets.
He guaranteed that DSWD’s dedication will remain steadfast in improving the quality of the marginalized Filipinos’ lives through the added funds for the department’s “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” or 4Ps from ₱62 billion in 2016 to ₱106.8 billion in 2021.
“Isang dekada na ang programa na ito at malaki ang naiambag nito sa pambansang layunin sa pag-unlad. Ayon sa pag-aaral ng NEDA, sinasabi na ang tuloy-tuloy na pagpapatupad ng 4Ps ay isa sa mga pangunahing dahilan ng malaking pagbaba ng poverty incidence, na mula sa 23.3% noong 2015 ay naging 16.6% na lamang noong 2018,” he said.
He also said the World Bank reported that 25% of the total decrease in the poverty rate can be directly related to the effectiveness of the 4Ps program.
“Sa pagpasa ng 4Ps Act noong 2019, lalong napagtibay ang pagbibigay serbisyo sa mahigit 4.3 million household beneficiaries kada taon,” he said.
Bautista also reported that the expanded social pension program under the administration has “positively changed” the lives of marginalized senior citizens. From 1.4 million beneficiaries in 2011, it has reached 3.6 million — almost half of the senior population in the country — who have received benefits from the program.
In relation to this, the department added that through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), 5.6 million Filipinos have benefited from ₱22.67 billion worth of funds for financial assistance, food provision, and other basic needs.
“Sa pamamagitan ng ating pagtutulungan, makakamit natin ang mga plano sa loob ng mga natitirang mga buwan ng administrasyong Duterte, upang mapaigting ang pagtamasa ng ating hangarin na tumaas ang kalidad ng [pamumuhay] mga Pilipino,” he concluded. – jlo
