Senator Erwin Tulfo has suggested shifting the form of aid for beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), proposing that they be given livelihood capital instead of direct cash assistance following reports of misuse.
Tulfo emphasized that providing capital would empower recipients to build small businesses like sari-sari stores, eateries, or online ventures—encouraging productivity and reducing dependency. “If we give them capital, they can use it to start businesses and contribute to the economy,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
This proposal comes after some 4Ps recipients were allegedly found spending their government cash aid on gambling and illegal drugs. According to Tulfo, some beneficiaries have expressed a preference for livelihood support over monthly stipends.
“It is also hard for them to hear that they are being called freeloaders, lazy, and that they do not add value to the country,” the senator added. He also raised concerns about fairness, pointing out that low-income workers such as janitors and house helpers receive no similar government support despite facing financial hardships.
Tulfo plans to bring up this proposal during an upcoming meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, though the date of the discussion has not been disclosed.
Meanwhile, during the recent Post-SONA forum, Gatchalian revealed that President Marcos is open to amending the 4Ps law to extend beneficiaries’ participation beyond the current seven-year limit. The move is seen as a timely intervention, as around two million Filipinos are set to graduate from the program by 2026.
