Gadon Advocates Expanding 4Ps Coverage
Disbarred lawyer and presidential anti-poverty czar Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon is urging the government to expand the 4Ps coverage to agriculture students beyond the current age limit of 18 years. He believes this move can help address food security challenges by nurturing more skilled workers in the agriculture sector.
During a recent House committee hearing on poverty alleviation, Gadon emphasized that extending the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program’s assistance to young adults enrolled in agricultural courses would bolster the country’s agricultural talent pool. Community members said this could translate to greater food production and sustainability.
Current 4Ps Program and Proposed Extension
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) currently limits 4Ps assistance to children aged zero to 18 years and pregnant women from low-income families who meet certain conditions. However, Gadon proposed revising this policy to include students pursuing agriculture-related studies, especially rice farming.
“I suggest that the assistance go beyond the 18 years, if the child beneficiary would take up agriculture courses […] We can extend the coverage of the assistance to students who will take up agricultural courses, particularly rice farming,” Gadon told the committee on poverty and alleviation.
Support for Agriculture Graduates: Land as Starter Farms
In addition to extending aid, Gadon recommended providing agricultural graduates who benefited from 4Ps with starter farmlands of two to three hectares. Officials reported that this initiative could empower new farmers to increase production and improve livelihoods.
He questioned, “Where do we get the land? If the ancient people in the ancient times can build hundreds of thousands of rice terraces using their bare hands and crude tools, why can’t we do it now with modern equipments and the heavy machineries?”
Gadon added that such terraces could also serve as water catchment areas, helping to mitigate flooding issues, a claim supported by local leaders focused on environmental solutions.
Addressing Food Security and Flood Control
Expanding the 4Ps coverage and providing land to farmer-beneficiaries align with tackling food security concerns. Gadon highlighted that only 18 percent of the country’s 19 million farmers own land, limiting their capacity to produce more.
“If we give it to them, we motivate them to produce more. And where do we get the funds?” he asked rhetorically. Gadon further noted that the rice terraces project could be more cost-effective compared to current flood control budgets.
“Compared to the flood control budget, the rice terraces project would use probably even below half of what we are spending now for the flood project,” he said, suggesting a dual benefit for agriculture and disaster mitigation.
DSWD’s Review of 4Ps Law and Proposed Amendments
On August 8, the DSWD announced it is reviewing possible amendments to Republic Act No. 11310, the law governing 4Ps, after 17 years of implementation. The agency aims to make the program more responsive to beneficiaries’ needs.
Officials reported that under current law, families can only stay in 4Ps for up to seven years, after which they are automatically dropped regardless of their poverty status. The DSWD emphasized that families should graduate from poverty, not just the program’s time limit.
More than 1.3 million families are expected to graduate next year. Proposed changes include an “aftercare program” offering toolkits, livelihood support, skills training, and other assistance to help beneficiaries sustain their progress.
For more news and updates on poverty alleviation, visit Filipinokami.com.
