By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said that the administration, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will intensify social protection and anti-hunger programs for the country’s poorest Filipinos, while ensuring that beneficiaries will eventually be able to support themselves and contribute to the economy.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Batasang Pambansa, Marcos reported that more than five million households have benefited from conditional cash grant under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and that almost 1.5 million families have graduated from the program in the last three years of the administration.
“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang ating programang 4Ps. Hangad din natin na amyendahan ang batas ng 4Ps upang matiyak na talagang sapat ang panahon para maitaguyod ang mga mahihirap,” he said.
He further stated that children of 4Ps beneficiaries who are soon to enter college will be prioritized in the next three years.
The President also directed local government units (LGUs) to help families and individuals in street situations (FISS) by enrolling them in the 4Ps and other DSWD programs.
“Batid nating lahat ang mga kababayan natin na namumuhay sa lansangan. Sila ang pinakanangangailangan ng tulong ng pamahalaan,” he said. “Para naman maitaguyod natin sila at magsimula na ang kanilang paglakbay tungo sa pag-unlad ng kanilang buhay.”
Along with the 4Ps, the government will also strengthen the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) to combat involuntary hunger and promote nutrition among the poor. Launched in 2023, the WGP aims to reach 750,000 households by 2027.
In line with this, the DSWD is also closely working with the Department of Education (DepEd) to continue supplementary feeding programs in daycare centers and public schools, providing nutritious food and milk to around 3.5 million students nationwide.
“Kung [palalawigin] pa natin ang mga programang ito, sa susunod na taon, sa tulong ng karagdagang [P1 bilyong pondo], pararamihin pa ng DSWD ang bilang ng mga batang mabibigyan ng masustansyang pagkain,” Marcos pointed out.
“Dahil alam naman natin, basta’t may laman ang tiyan, may laman ang isipan.”
-av
