The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reached a major achievement through its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). By the end of 2024, the program helped nearly 9 million children between ages 0 to 18 get better access to health care and education. This shows how strong the government’s support is for poor families across the country.
4Ps gives cash aid to families who follow certain conditions, like sending their kids to school and visiting health centers regularly. This approach helps children stay healthy and continue learning, giving them a better future. According to DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, the program is creating real change by helping children grow up with the care and support they need.
Since the program became law in 2019 under Republic Act 11310, it has continued to grow. More than 4 million poor families are now part of the program across all 18 regions of the Philippines. Even hard-to-reach areas like the Bangsamoro region are being served. The program also supports vulnerable groups, including the elderly, solo parents, indigenous communities, and persons with disabilities.
Improving Education and Health for Children
The 4Ps program focuses on helping kids from poor families get a good education and stay healthy. So far, it has helped over 1 million young people graduate from high school, and nearly 500,000 children finish elementary school. Also, around 40,000 past beneficiaries have passed board exams, with 65 earning top spots in their fields.
In terms of health, 4Ps makes sure children go to health check-ups, receive vaccines, and learn proper nutrition habits. Parents are encouraged to take their children to clinics and follow medical advice. This complete support system helps improve both school performance and physical health.
Household Distribution Across Regions
The program is active all over the Philippines, reaching both urban and rural areas. Here is how the households are spread out:
- Bicol Region: 377,147 households
- BARMM (Bangsamoro Region): 230,463 households
- Other Regions Combined: 3,792,390 households
- Total: 4,400,000 households
Even in remote regions like BARMM, the DSWD makes sure help gets through. This shows the program’s dedication to reaching every Filipino family in need.
Help for Special Sectors of Society
4Ps also focuses on helping other groups who need extra support. As of December 2024, the program includes:
- 1,223,183 senior citizens
- 284,800 solo parents
- 269,747 Indigenous peoples
- 50,200 persons with disabilities
These groups are given support to help them take care of their families, especially in giving their children a better chance to learn and grow.
Women Leading Households
Most of the families receiving help through 4Ps are led by women. The numbers show:
- Female leaders: 86%
- Male leaders: 13.98%
This shows that many mothers are taking charge of managing family needs and making sure their children follow the program’s rules.
Future Goals of the 4Ps Program
The government wants to improve 4Ps even more. Some of the future plans include:
- Creating better systems to check if families are following the rules
- Giving more help like job training for parents
- Working closely with local governments for smoother implementation
These plans aim to make sure that 4Ps will continue helping families and giving children better lives. The government is focused on breaking the cycle of poverty and making long-term changes through education and health.