Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday said he is still expecting Congress to approve their request for additional funds to increase the cash grants under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Gatchalian made this remark as the House of Representatives and the Senate tackle the proposed national budget for 2024.

He said the DSWD fully supports an increase in cash grants after the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) came out with a report showing that the PHP31,200 maximum amount being received by a 4Ps household had been reduced in value to only PHP14,524 due to Covid-19 pandemic and high inflation.

“But siyempre dahil budget season ngayon we leave it to the Congress and the Senate to approve this measure. And ako naniniwala ako na maraming sumisimpatiya para sa ating 4Ps Program (But of course, since it is budget season, we leave it to the Congress and Senate to approve this measure. And I believe that many sympathize with the 4Ps program),” he said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon (BPN) program.

Gatchalian said if Congress would not approve the additional fund, the 4Ps beneficiaries would continue to find means to support the education of their children.

He said 4Ps is just one of the government’s whole spectrum of programs aimed at alleviating poverty through investment in education.

“It’s a whole spectrum of anti-poverty programs that we should look into together holistically,” he said.

The 4Ps is a human development measure of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition and education of children aged 0-18. (PNA)