Duterte unlikely to scrap 4Ps — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is not likely to transform the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to a livelihood program for farmers as the poor need financial help because of rising commodity prices, Malacañang said yesterday. 

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol had proposed earlier the allocation of P70-billion budget of the 4Ps to programs that would boost farm productivity and small-scale economic activities. 

He claimed that the 4Ps, which gives cash allowances to poor households that send their children to school and avail themselves of public health services, makes families wait for assistance instead of making them productive.  

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, however, said the rising prices of goods have made the implementation of 4Ps necessary.

“The country needs 4Ps especially now that the prices of goods are rising. I think the President will give priority to 4Ps more than ever,” Roque said in a press briefing.

Roque believes Duterte may even expand the cash transfer program, which started during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“I don’t think he will support (the proposal to change the 4Ps). I think the President’s actions will be opposite. He may even check whether the 4Ps can be expanded at this time,” the spokesman said.

Critics have blamed the Duterte administration’s tax reform program for soaring commodity prices. Officials, however, claimed that the higher prices of goods are caused mainly by soaring oil prices in the world market.