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DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, July 5, 2023. Bibo Nueva España, Senate PRIB/File

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175428713096820230705-gatchalian-rex-dswd-senate-PRIB-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, July 5, 2023. Bibo Nueva España, Senate PRIB/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development said Monday it was exploring how to improve its flagship Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4PS).</p><p>This, after Sen. Erwin Tulfo proposed that poor families should receive livelihood capital instead of cash aid through the anti-poverty program.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/31/erwin-tulfo-to-look-into-4ps-to-address-possible-abuses-2113">Erwin Tulfo to look into 4Ps to address possible &#x27;abuses&#x27;</a></div><p>Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said scrapping the 4Ps program was not discussed during his meeting with Tulfo last week.  </p><p>&quot;Hindi namin napag-usapan na tanggalin, ang napag-usapan namin paano pagagandahin,&quot; Gatchalian said.</p><p>&quot;Ang napagkasunduan namin is to find program enhancements para sa mga ga-graduate palabas ng 4Ps,&quot; he added.</p><p>(We did not talk about scrapping it. We talked about how to improve it. What we have agreed on is to find enhancements in the program, especially for those graduating from it.)</p><p>The 4Ps has been marred with several issues, including allegations that some “undeserving” beneficiaries continue to receive cash from the program. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/22/dswd-more-than-400k-households-validated-for-inclusion-in-4ps-0845">DSWD: More than 400K households validated for inclusion in 4Ps</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/18/nearly-680-000-families-under-4ps-achieved-self-sufficiency-marcos-jr-1622">Nearly 680,000 families under 4Ps &#x27;achieved self-sufficiency&#x27;: Marcos Jr.</a></div><p>&quot;Matagal na tumatakbo ang 4Ps program and it is due to look into it and see paano natin mai-improve,&quot; he added.</p><p>(This has been a long-running program and it is due to look into it and see how we can improve it.)</p><p>The existence of the 4Ps program is enshrined in law through Republic Act 11310, institutionalizing the program as the government&#x27;s flagship project in breaking inter-generational poverty.</p><p>Last week, Gatchalian said they wer<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/29/amendment-in-4ps-law-sought-to-ensure-beneficiaries-welfare-1800?obOrigUrl=true">e pushing for an amendment in the law </a>to better care for beneficiaries who are unable to lift themselves out of poverty within the 7-year limit.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re trying to explore paano pa natin mama-maximize ang potential ng ating mga mamamayan,&quot; he said.</p><p>(We&#x27;re trying to explore how we can maximize the potential of our people.) </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PCqZ5cOjcDA" title="SONA 2025 | Marcos says 1.5M families who graduated from 4Ps now out of poverty | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it was exploring how to improve the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. </p>

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it was exploring how to improve the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Livelihood capital instead of aid? DSWD open to talks on improving 4Ps

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Livelihood capital instead of aid? DSWD open to talks on improving 4Ps

Jervis Manahan

Published August 04, 2025 02:01 PM PHT

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ABSNews

DSWD

4Ps

Conditional Cash Transfer

Rex Gatchalian

Erwin Tulfo

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