Law Summary
Declaration of Policies
- The State aims to promote a just and dynamic social order to uplift marginalized sectors from poverty.
- Policies focus on adequate social services, full employment, improved living standards, and quality of life.
- Recognizes social justice under Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution emphasizing human dignity, reducing inequalities, and equitable wealth distribution.
- Focus on economic opportunities via freedom of initiative and self-reliance.
- Investment in human capital and better delivery of basic services such as education, health, nutrition, and early childhood care.
- Promotes gender equality and empowerment of women and children.
- Targets universal primary education, reduced child mortality, malnutrition, improved maternal health, and overall well-being.
Definition of Terms
- Defines critical terms such as Authorized Government Depository Banks, Case Management, Compliance Verification, Conditional Cash Grant, Grantee, Grievance Redress System, Health Facility, Institutionalization, Poor, Preventive Health Check-up, Qualified Household-Beneficiaries, Responsible Person, Standardized Targeting System, and Sustainable Livelihood Program.
- These definitions set the groundwork for program implementation and monitoring.
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
- Defined as a national poverty reduction and human capital investment program.
- Provides conditional cash transfers to poor households for up to seven years (extendable under special circumstances).
Selection of Qualified Household-Beneficiaries
- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) selects beneficiaries using a standardized targeting system.
- Revalidation of targeting is conducted every three years to ensure accuracy.
Eligible Beneficiaries
- Includes farmers, fisherfolks, homeless families, indigenous peoples, informal settler sector, and those in geographically disadvantaged areas.
- Eligibility criteria:
- Classified as poor or near-poor by the Standardized Targeting System and Philippine Statistics Authority’s poverty threshold.
- Have members aged zero to eighteen or pregnant members at registration.
- Willingness to comply with program conditions.
Conditional Cash Transfer to Beneficiaries
- The Advisory Council sets conditional cash grant amounts:
- Day care and elementary: minimum Php 300 per child/month for 10 months/year.
- Junior high school: minimum Php 500 per child/month for 10 months/year.
- Senior high school: minimum Php 700 per child/month for 10 months/year.
- Health and nutrition: minimum Php 750/month for 12 months/year.
- The health grant is a fixed amount per household to improve health practices and service utilization.
Coverage in National Health Insurance Program (NHIP)
- All 4Ps beneficiaries are automatically covered under NHIP.
- Funding sourced from the Sin Tax Reform Act of 2012 revenues.
Mode of Cash Transfer
- DSWD ensures direct and secure cash transfers through Authorized Government Depository Banks.
- In less served areas, services of rural, thrift, cooperative banks or accredited money remittance institutions can be engaged.
Periodic Assessment
- Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) conducts impact assessments every three years.
- PIDS may recommend cash grant adjustments every six years based on Consumer Price Index.
- Advisory Council ensures grant sufficiency and timely use.
Conditions for Entitlement
- Pregnant women must avail of prenatal, skilled birthing, and postnatal care.
- Children aged 0-5 must receive regular preventive health and nutrition services.
- Children 1-14 years must avail deworming twice yearly.
- Children 3-4 years must attend daycare/pre-school 85% of the time.
- Children 5-18 years must attend elementary or secondary school at least 85% of the time.
- At least one responsible adult must attend monthly family development sessions.
- Conditions may be suspended during calamities or conflicts.
Noncompliance with Conditions
- First noncompliance results in written notice and immediate grant termination.
- After 4 months, cases undergo DSWD case management.
- Persistent noncompliance for 1 year results in removal from the program.
Livelihood Interventions
- Qualified beneficiaries are prioritized for the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and similar programs.
- Priority is also given to employment facilitation services under SLP or related government employment programs.
Lead Agency
- DSWD is the central agency for planning, coordinating, implementing, and monitoring 4Ps.
- Functions include:
- Selecting beneficiaries using an objective, transparent method.
- Ensuring inter-agency coordination.
- Establishing monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Recommending policies to the Advisory Council.
- Providing training and community development activities.
- Reporting annually to Congress.
- Formulating implementing guidelines.
Advisory Council
- Created at national and regional levels, headed by DSWD.
- Composition includes representatives from various government departments and NGOs.
- Functions involve:
- Coordinating program implementation.
- Recommending policies.
- Ensuring budgetary funding for related programs.
- Managing grievance redress systems.
- Reviewing monitoring reports and suggesting improvements.
Independent Monitoring Committee
- Composed of private sector and civil society representatives.
- Supports DSWD by providing independent program monitoring and feedback.
- Reports to Advisory Council.
Regular Monitoring
- DSWD must monitor the program and report to Congress every three years to ensure goals are met.
Program Reporting
- Annual publication of a comprehensive 4Ps report detailing financials, beneficiary counts, and recommendations.
- Report submitted to Congress before the President's Budget Message.
Convergence of Programs and Services
- Government agencies must ensure complementary and seamless integration of pro-poor programs.
- Emphasis on operational efficiency and inter-agency partnership.
- The government monitors agency performance to sustain positive program impacts.
Program Transparency
- DSWD must regularly post updated financial disclosures and beneficiary information on its website.
Joint Congressional Oversight Committee
- Constituted to review program implementation and recommend remedial legislation.
- Composed of 14 members from the House and Senate.
- Will conduct a sunset review within three years evaluating impact, accomplishments, and agency performance.
Appropriations
- Funding for program implementation sourced from current and future General Appropriations Acts.
Implementing Rules and Regulations
- The Secretary of DSWD must promulgate rules within six months of the Act's effectivity in coordination with relevant agencies and LGUs.
Penalties
- Persons inserting false data or diverting funds face imprisonment from one month to one year, fines from Php 10,000 to Php 100,000, or both.
- Public officials face additional temporary disqualification from office and administrative sanctions.
Separability Clause
- Unconstitutional provisions will be severed without affecting the rest of the Act.
Repealing Clause
- Inconsistent laws and issuances are repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
Effectivity Clause
- The Act takes effect fifteen days after publication in the Official Gazette or two newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.