The humanitarian arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Wednesday urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will not be politicized with the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

“We need to ensure that the program is implemented in a way that is fair and sustainable and to ensure that the poorest and most marginalized people are prioritized,” Caritas Philippines president Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said in a statement.

He added that the program should not be used to advance political interest, especially at the local level.

He noted that maintaining the integrity of the program is necessary as it is already popular and supported by Filipinos.

“We are glad that the public recognizes the importance of the 4Ps,” Bagaforo said.

Based on a recent survey by the Oculum Research and Analytics, 91 percent of the 1,200 respondents support the conditional cash transfer program of the government.

It also reported that survey results show the significance of the 4Ps to the lives of Filipinos. (PNA)