Senator Lacson Advocates for Integrating All Government Aid Under 4Ps
Senator-elect Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is pushing to consolidate all forms of government assistance into the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, widely known as 4Ps. This move aims to streamline aid distribution and improve transparency across social welfare programs.
Lacson emphasized the importance of this integration as part of his broader campaign for good governance and more comprehensive oversight of the national budget. He stated, “This early, I have instructed my prospective legislative staff to draft an amendment to Republic Act 11310, the law on the 4Ps program, to expand it and address the sectors covered by the other forms of ayuda that have become confusing and have become a political tool used by some politicians for their campaigns, both during and outside of the campaign period.”
Why Integrate All Government Aid Under 4Ps?
The senator pointed out that expanding the 4Ps is preferable because it relies on a data-driven list of beneficiaries. In contrast, other aid programs, such as TUPAD, AKAP, AICS, and MAIP, often distribute assistance indiscriminately, leading to duplication and inefficiency.
He also expressed concern over some lawmakers’ involvement in distributing certain aid programs like the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), despite not being part of the official implementing agencies. Lacson underscored that the 4Ps program involves careful studies from agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure proper implementation.
About the 4Ps Program
The 4Ps serves as the national strategy for poverty reduction and human capital development. It provides conditional cash transfers to poor households for up to seven years. This support focuses on improving the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0 to 18, aiming to break the cycle of poverty through long-term investment in families.
Intensifying Budget Oversight and Support for Local Governments
Alongside his plan to integrate all government aid under 4Ps, Lacson vowed to strengthen his examination of the national budget. After a three-year hiatus, he intends to review recent budgets thoroughly, calling this year’s budget “one of the most corrupt national budgets” he has encountered in his nearly two decades in the Senate.
“I will intensify my scrutiny of the budget after a three-year absence. I want to study the pattern of how the national budgets of the last three years were passed,” he said. “I will prioritize scrutinizing the national budget, which is the lifeline of our economy. Without the budget, we cannot move.”
Furthermore, Lacson plans to boost support for local government units by proposing a one-percent rebate on their Value Added Tax remittances to the national government. This initiative aims to strengthen local governments’ financial capacity and autonomy.
Senator-elect Lacson, who was recently proclaimed at a formal ceremony, is set to bring these reforms to the Senate as he begins his term. His proposals highlight a focus on transparency, data-driven policymaking, and enhancing the reach of social services in the Philippines.
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