HOUSE leaders on Wednesday said that they are determined to keep the funding for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) intact in the 2025 national budget and make sure that no surprise realignments will happen in any of the stages of the legislative budget process.
This was the declaration made by Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbersand Manila Rep. Ernesto “Ernix” Dionisio during the daily press briefing at the House of Representatives.
“Hindi iyon nangyari sa Congress. When that budget was approved in the (General Appropriations Bill) GAB, that fund was intact. Somewhere along another way, nabawasan po iyon. At kung titingnan po natin, meron pong ongoing House investigation po dito para malaman kung ano ang naging epekto ng bawas na iyon,” Suarez said.
“It’s actually shocking that this was even allowed to happen because of the importance and significance of the 4P’s program. Let us not forget just last week, when our President delivered the State of the Nation Address, kinilala nya yung dalawang success stories ng 4Ps program,” he added.
Sen. Imee Marcos had earlier admitted realigning billions of pesos in 4Ps allocations in 2023, transferring the funds to other programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which resulted to about 4.3 million Filipinos not receiving the social grant from the government.
“We will make sure na hindi mangyayari iyon, kasi marami pong kababayan natin na ang nakalinya para tumanggap nitong benepisyong ito, itong tulong na ito mula sa ating gobyerno,” Barbers said when asked how they can prevent a realignment of the 4Ps budget.
“Somewhere along the way, yung pondong nakalaan para sa beneficiaries ng 4Ps eh napunta sa iba. So ngayon sa ating budget season, we will make sure na this would not happen kasi kung anu yung para sa tao, yun ang dapat nating i-deliver sa tao,” Barbers said.
Dionisio said that he will fight for the funding of the 4Ps program, as many of his constituents are benefitting from the program.
“Ako naman, sa amin sa Tondo sa Maynila, maraming benepisyaryo ang 4Ps. So, ako talaga, I will fight tooth and nail para hindi mapalitan. Dapat nga, mas madagdagan pa natin,” Dionisio said.
Suarez agreed, saying that the realignment of the 4Ps budget is now the subject of an inquiry in the House of Representatives.
He noted that this only proves that the intention of the 4Ps program is noteworthy, and that it should be funded continuously.
“Dito, sisiguraduhin namin, katulad ng sinabi ni Congressman Ace, na hindi po mangyayari ito, hanggang sa dulo, hanggang sa pirmahan. At kung kinakailangan na dagdagagn pa natin ito, dadagdagan pa po natin ito dahil ito po ang inutos po sa amin at pinapaalala sa amin ni Speaker Martin Romualdez pagdating sa mga tulong para sa mga tao,” Suarez said.
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